At What Age Are You Too Old?
January 18th, 2008I’m sitting in the Whistler Walk-In Clinic, while the slim athletic doctor reviews my x-rays. “So how long have you been snowboarding,” she asks, her blond hair falling forward. “Um, well, it was my sixth time when I fell,” I reply, trying gently to shift the weight off my very, bruised backside.
“Are you a skier?” She demands, this time raising her sharp blue eyes above the laptop she is typing furiously onto. I am quickly realizing her concern is not focused on my very, very sore bottom, but rather on what I am doing on a snowboard in the first place. “We see a lot of snowboard injuries in here, mostly knees, wrists and elbows, way more than skiing. Take my advice and go back to skiing. It’s much safer.”
There it is my prognosis and my treatment along with a prescription for Tylenol 3’s. She has, in her not so subtle way, warned me that I am too old, and will likely continue to get hurt if I keep up this foolish notion of snowboarding.
Am I too old? Should I have started this sport sooner? In the prophetic words of W.M. Lewis,
“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.”
Everything I read about our aging populations states that 60 is the new 40, so isn’t it only fair to conclude that 40 must be the new 20 or 30 at least? Is age a state of mind or a way of ensuring our survival? According to the Life Expectancy tables, Canadian women are now living (on average) until we are 82.3, and yes, we are still outliving our male counterparts who are checking out at 77.2. According to these tables, and not God, I will be around for at least another 40 years.
Walking by my snowboard, now gathering dust in our garage, I feel this twinge of disappointment. My posterior has long since healed, but the fear of falling and hurting myself again, prevents me from climbing back on the board. I am further taunted, each weekend, by the young fearless people who effortless curve by me, barely conscious of their skill and ability.
I don’t want to be too old to try anything, this excludes sushi. Sure I may be 40 ish, but like Jean Cretin, I plan on water skiing well into my 70’s, that goes for downhill skiing too. So maybe that’s the trade-off. Maybe I have a 100 runs left in my knees, and maybe staying away from snowboarding will ensure that I get to cash-in on every one of them.
In the meantime, if anyone is looking for a barley used snowboard, send me an email.
Cheers,
Julie
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January 19th, 2008 at 2:44 am
Sounds a lot like the bucket list to me.
January 19th, 2008 at 3:47 am
I haven’t tried snowboarding yet, but I would love to! I just turned 50 — which means the new 40 right?
Nah, never too old — as far as the mind is concerned anyway!!
January 20th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Thanks Debb,
Does this mean you’re going to give it a whirl? Need a board?
Cheers,
Julie
January 21st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I really would love to try it! My daughter has one of those plastic strap-on baords from Canadian Tire. We tried that on a small hill near us. F-U-N! I can imagine how a REAL board is.
Too bad you’re so far away, I’d borrow one of your boards for sure!
January 24th, 2008 at 2:47 am
I believe the politically correct terminoligy to address you as now is “Cougar”
I was on a snow board this week in Dubai going down sand dunes. I did this right after riding a camel and 4×4 riding over sand dunes. I hope I never get as old as you. Sincerely, Your much younger brother.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:48 am
P.S. This was after I ran the Dubai Marathon.
January 24th, 2008 at 5:14 am
Well then, maybe you would be interested in buying one gently used snowboard??
Glad to hear Dubai survived your visit and there were no international incidents.
Welcome home,
The Coug.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
It was a real challenge getting hold of my sister this week. She was either snowmobiling, curling, donwhill or cross country skiing. Or, shovelling her Muskoka cottage/home driveway for the nth time. It’s the same in summer…between golf, kayaking and entertaining her five grandchildren, she has little time for idle chat. Yes, she is in her early sixties. As a mere kid at 52 I’m training for the Ottawa half marathon and will do a couple of triathlons this year. Age means little these days as long as we look after the shell we were given. Keeping brain active and body active is the key. We’re never ‘too old’ - just more selective in our activities!
February 14th, 2008 at 1:44 am
I recently was sitting with my 14 year old son, studying the surface of one of Jupiter’s moons for a science project. “Wow” I said, That is gnarley!” At which point my son replied, “Gnarley? How do you know that word? He then went on to call me “square” Language and especially slang always seems to be invented by the youth of present day. At 43, I feel like I should be ditching my hoodie and donning a cardigan.
I can still skate, wakeboard and unicycle circles around him - for now.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:57 am
Don’t give up your hoodie, Tony! 43 is not old - you have every right to be a gnarley dude!
Thanks for the comment.
Cheers,
Julie