Well, I did something on the weekend I hadn't done in so long, I forget when the last time really was. I played baseball in a league game!
My two sons both play "slow-pitch" on a team that's made up of their buddy's and a few others. Most of them are in their 20's and one or two in their 30's. At the beginning of the season, my oldest asked if I would go on the "reserve list" just in case they needed a body so as not to forfeit any games because of a lack of bodies. "Ya sure", not thinking it would ever happen, but it did!
Starting at 1st base, the other teams first 6 hitters were all lefties, so it was initiation by fire! Of the 4 innings I played there, I made only 1 error and it wasn't even recorded as an error. I played 2 innings at 3rd base and caught a line drive that just about removed my left thumb(self preservation). It turned a really nice shade of purple, from the first joint near the tip down to the meaty part near the wrist. I couldn't wrap my thumb around the bat for my last 2 plate appearances. I played the last inning as catcher. I went 3 for 4 at the plate, with 1-RBI and 1 run scored. We lost 11-4.
Aside from the thumb injury, I thought I came away unscathed. That was until the next day. It has been years since I hurt so bad in so many different places. Muscles I'd forgotten that I had, reminded me I still had them. Both knees, back, throwing arm, wrists, shoulders and neck all felt like I'd gone the distance with Ali!
I joke with my kids and their friends when they get too cocky, that even though I'm 51 I've still got 30 seconds of stark raving mad lunatic left in me, so don't mess with the "old bull". They all agree, except now they add, "but have ya got 7 more innings left in ya?". Unfortunately, I think the answer is no! It felt good at the time, but I think the joy of pain has left me!