Playing Softball

Last night I played on our school co-ed softball team. My first time at bat I hit a blooper past the infield. Because of the short field, I knew I had to run fast to beat the throw. Safely at first I realized that I pulled a muscle in the process of running as fast as I could. One of my favorite lines from the movie Top Gun, is when the commander told Maverick, "Son, your writing checks your body can't cash."

My mind thought I was in college again, playing intramural softball. My fellow teachers were amazed how fast I could run. Of course, it will probably be the last time I can run any faster than a slow jog this season.

Something else that I figured out, after I missed a ground ball and a pop fly, is that you should not where bifocals when you are playing anything in which an object is coming at your head.

My father-in-law played softball until he was almost 70. He could have kept playing, except I think the team he played on was disbanded. At 83, he can still throw, catch, and bat better than most 40 year old softball players.

Next week I hope I do not injure something else. For the next week I will do some stretching and cycling. Maybe that will be enough prevention. Of course, my leg is probably a long way from healing. Again, this is one of the many times in my life that I have the opportunity to play with pain. My high school football coach Joe Bob Tyler would be proud!