When the Warranty Runs Out

My office for the week

Okay, I'll say it.

It sucks getting old.

Now that I'm much closer to 50 than 40, things that used to work well are working slower and in some cases, aren't working at all. (And before you say it, the part you are thinking of, works just fine---dirty minded bastards)

I say this as I lay in bed, with my foot propped up under 3 pillows with a soft cast on. And as much as I'd like to say surgery on my heel has been my only issue this year, it hasn't been.

A lot of the cliches you hear growing up have some truth to them. As a teen, I was told repeatedly to take better care of my ankle injuries because it would catch up to me when I'm older. In my 20's, if you carry a camera too long, you'll end up with bad shoulders. My 30's, slow down, you are working too much and protect your eye's the more you strain them the worse they are going to get.

And every one of those sayings came true.

The ankle part I kind of expected. I played sports as a kid and was very active. Playing basketball, my ankles rolled, a lot. And they got worse after the BIG injury. As a high school junior, I was playing in a Spring game when I came down on someone's foot grabbing a rebound, turned my ankle all the way right and left. Blew out all the ligaments and tendons.

My high school graduation present--ankle surgery and this from my doctor--"Just so you know, you'll deal with arthritis in your ankle from here on in". And as a teen, I just shrugged it off.

In my 20's, I began my TV career as a Video Photographer and Producer. I loved what I did and was good at it. I carried a camera until I was 44-years old. And it the 5,6 and sometimes 7 days a week of carrying a 20+ pound anchor on my right shoulder, eventually took a toll. Rotator cuff problems and arthritis at the end. I could barely raise my arm over my head.

Shooting Sports Back in the Day

The 30's, it was my eyes. Imagine growing up with perfect eyesight and starting a career in the visual arts. And one day you are sprawled out on the couch reading a book. You decide to get up and fall over from dizziness. Only to find out your eyes were messed up from straining because you can't see as well as you used to.

And it's gotten progressively worse. Some 15-years later, I can't see anything without my glasses. Anything. If you see me driving a car without either my prescription sunglasses or regular glasses on, you probably need to get out of the way. Heck, as recently as 2006, I could go work a football game during the day and shoot with non-prescription sunglasses on. Did it all the time and was one of the best Sports Photographers in the business. Today, I couldn't do it if I wanted to. I can't look in the viewfinder and see anything but a blur. And as an added bonus, I apparently have a cyst in one of my eyes, I'm going to see a specialist about it next week.

Once you cross the 40 threshold weird things begin happening too. I got a surprise trip to the hospital at the end of February. The reason. Apparently I suffer from Vasovagal Syncopothy (sp?). I passed out twice in the span of 12 hours. Thankfully, the Lovely Bride got me to the hospital, because I could feel the 1st one coming. And apparently, I passed out in the ER waiting room right after someone asked me my name. I woke up a few minutes later in a trauma room having no idea what happened. The second time was in the hospital after being kept for observation, I passed out and landed on my head in the bathroom of my hospital room. And that lead to a concussion. A serious one at that.

Concussion Recovery

I don't recommend ever getting a concussion, and I now totally get why Sports teams on every level from Little League to the Pros should make a big deal about them. Imagine waking up dizzy, with a headache that won't go away and unable to do much of anything but feel like you are hung over---even though you didn't drink anything.

I couldn't lay on my back without the room spinning or triggering a headache until very recently (2 months later). And believe me when I say this, it was one of the most miserable experiences of my life.


Which brings me back to the beginning. I just had a rather large chunk of bone taken out of the side of my heel. The growth was apparently an accumulation of fragments from previous injuries. Why take it out? Because, basically it prevented me from being active. I could walk on it. Even run on it. But that meant an hour of ice afterwards. Just going to the store was a chore because it really hurt afterwards.

So yeah, my point is this. When you are less than 40-years old, you consider yourself sort of indestructible, you can bounce back from anything. And to an extent, you can. But it takes a toll. And much like a car with a limited or even an extended warranty, it eventually catches back up with you. So be careful, but have fun. Don't limit yourself, ever, but remember, if you do get hurt, take care of it. Take care of it well and don't jump back in until you are completely and totally healthy.

As I write this I'm 48-years old. I've got a LOT of mileage on me, but I kind of enjoy being semi-active. I started working out regularly again and watching what I eat. I've lost 35-pounds since August of 2012. I plan on keeping that off and staying healthy. Even if the warranty has kind of run out, I plan on getting my money's worth out of what ever mileage is left.

On that note, I give you one my all-time favorite rock songs ever...