Racquetball

Well, I finally did it. I have begun to play racquetball again.

You may think, well, great, good for you. And it is but it is also very painful for me...............!

Yes, painful. It's been 20 years since I've picked up a racquetall racquet. And my friend who is playing with me, the guitarist in our band, also hasn't played in 20 years. But he's 10 years younger than me, and he's not hurting like me. That's just not fair. Just kidding.

The first week we played, my upper arm and shoulder hurt on the 2nd serve! The muscle right under my knees (what is it called?) hurt right after we were done. And every time after. And my muscles ached the rest of the week, the first week we got back on the court.

The 2nd week we played, the arm and shoulder began hurting the first game, and the knees right after, again. But the muscles stopped hurting after a few days.

This week, the arm and shoulder only began hurting in the 3rd game. Yes! Progress! The knees only hurt somewhat. Progress! But, the shoulder still hurts. And the back. : ( OK, I pushed harder the third game....! Our nun who is an M.D., Sr. Clare, told me today to back it off a bit. Don't push as hard. I told her, yeah, good idea, but I'm a man! We gotta be dumb and push! She said yes, she knows. And we chuckle, but I know I gotta listen to her.

But overall I feel better since we started playing. My goal, you understand, is to play the way I played, and to have the stamina I had when I was 16! Tall order, but I will not give up until I reach it. It's gotta be.

Oh, yeah. One other thing. The court we play on is one at the guitarist's apartments. So we don't pay to play. But, the thermostat is torn off the wall and there is no air in the court. And this is Texas! I am soaked when we walk out of the court. But, fun, and good for us.


Shalom!
br francis