okay, i'm not 20 anymore...

If I'm still 20 in my head, why will my body not just give in and go along with it??

Last Saturday was the SEC championship game between Auburn and South Carolina.  Being the Auburn alumni and fan that I am, the game was an exciting time as we try to make the National Championship game for the first time.  Now, ever since forever, it's been my little tradition to jump around and sing the fight song when Auburn scores.  Never have given it a thought.  Seth and Lacy are very familiar with my little dance and have seen it numerous times, even joined in on occasion (but mostly laughed at me).

For some bizarre reason that is beyond me, providence took offense at my dance and choose at that moment to remind me that this is not proper behavior for a grown woman of a certain age.  I heard a loud pop or snap or crack that definitely wasn't Rice Krispies.  At the same time felt as though I'd been shot in the back of my leg.  I've never actually been shot, but I'm pretty darn sure that's how it would feel.

Of course, I'm down, wondering what the hell was that, and not believing that something actually tore in my leg.  I've always heard that you can hear when a tendon snaps, so my immediate thought was my Achillies, given that it was at the base of my calf.  Actually, after visiting an Orthopedist on Tuesday, learned that (evidently) I ruptured my calf muscle, basically where the tendon connects to the muscle.  This was the doctor's expert diagnosis, although he took no X-rays, did no MRI, and actually did little but look at my leg which looks like a normal leg.  I'm trusting that, given he is a specialist, he knows whereof he speaks.

So I acquired a contraption that looks like a Stormtrooper boot, and was told to wear it for, oh, 3-4 weeks.  The tear will heal on it's own.  How we know this without some sort of closer examination, I'm not sure, but I have to trust that it will heal and all will be well again in time for the National Championship game, when I will refrain from my traditional dance.  I am in luck, however, that it is my left leg, and I gave up on manual transmissions a couple of years ago, so driving is not a problem.

All-in-all, I'm okay with the injury.  Not much I can do but be okay.  I'm very thankful that it was not worse, as it was enough of a chore to tend to myself living alone and hobbling around the house.  And thank you, Target, for having Bertolli frozen dinners on sale the week before.  Without that "buy 4, get one free" deal, I would have had nothing but mac n cheese and field peas to eat.  I did have to reuse my last coffee filter a couple of times, but at least I had coffee.  That could have been a major disaster!

So, after over-doing it a bit the rest of the week, I'm determined to take care of the leg and listen to my body and not think I'm superwoman.  I can't make it go away, or heal any faster, but I can delay the healing by straining it as I've done a few times.  Beside, I have a couple of good books, ingredients for some taco soup, and the forecast is for rain-turning-to-snow.  I have the city out my window, plenty of on-line Christmas shopping to do, yarn to knit, card games to play, and enough peace of mind to be happy doing any of these things.

I seriously doubt I would be able to manage that kind of contentment at 20, so I guess there's a bonus to being "of a certain age".  It brings an ability to enjoy, even relish, simpler things and having time or occasion to do them.  As long as the 20-year-old in my head doesn't start trying to take over, I'll be fine.