Those injuries we faced - and face again

knee brace - hi tech version
Originally uploaded by Brite Lights photos.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - My knees have never been quite the same since Track Coach Joe Rushin made us run around every spring on those hard concrete floors at SWCS while we waited for the snow to melt off the track.

Added to that annual knee trauma was two years of football hits and four years of twisting on the wrestling mats.

Still, I was in my 30s before I started having trouble and learned from my various docs that running on concrete, getting mashed in football game pileups and having someone twist your leg like a pretzel can have longterm ramifications.

No duh, right?

So since then, I've pretty much ignored the kind of aches and pains that come from my knees, adjusting to the fact that I can't move to my left when I play tennis and running on hard surfaces is out completely.

But these old injuries crop up at weird times, which is why I'm shopping online for a hi-tech knee brace. The one with today's blog looks pretty cool. It might even work.

Dancing at a party last week, doing the Twist and God-knows-what-other dances, I was inspired to twist all the way down to the floor, and, perhaps because of the copious volume of Merlot consumed, to stand back up - repeatedly. If my knees hurt at the time, I don't really know. But in the days after, I doubt I could have beaten Chester from Gunsmoke in a footrace and this morning, after being cramped on three planes in a cross-country journey, I'm stalking around the condo like Ahab looking for the white whale.

But I'm already planning my rehab so I can reinjure myself, er, I mean be safe, next year at the reunion, when we can all dance like crazy and then compare what's left of our knees, elbows and shins.

Today's song is not from the 1960s. But I think is sums up how I feel today anyway.

==============

"As Good As I Once Was"
By Toby Keith

She said, "I'e seen you in here before."
I said, "I've been here a time or two."
She said, "Hello, my
Name is Bobby Jo
Meet my twin sister Betty Lou
And we're both feeling kinda wild tonight
And you're the only cowboy in this place
And if you're up for a rodeo
We'll put a big Texas smile on
Your face"
I said, "Girls,"

[Chorus]
I ain't as good as I once was
I got a few years on me now
But there was a time back in my prime

When I could really lay it down
And if you need some love tonight
Then I might have just enough
I ain't as good as I once was
But I'm as good once as I ever was

I still hang out with my best friend dave
Ive known him since we were kids at school
Last night he
Had a few shots
Got in a tight spot hustlin' a game of pool
With a couple of readneck boys
One great
Big bad biker man
I heard David yell across the room
"Hey buddy, how 'bout a helping hand."
I said, "Dave,"

[Chorus]
I ain't as good as I once was
My how the years have flown
But there was a time back in my prime

When I could really hold my own
But if you wanna fight tonight
Guess thouse boys dont look all that
Tough
I ain't as good as I once was
But I'm as good once as I ever was

I used to be hell on wheels
Back when I was younger man
Now my body says, "You can't do this boy"

But my pride says, "Oh, yes you can

I ain't as good as I once was
Thats just the cold hard truth
I still throw a few back, talk a little smack
When I'm feelin bullet proof
So don't double dog dare me now
'Cause I'd have to call your bluff

I ain't as good as I once was
But I'm as good once as I ever was
Maybe not be good as I once was
But I'm as good once as I ever was