I was thinking of cute titles for this post (due to me having too much free time, and an inability to move around a lot, as will be explained later) and that was the best I could think of. Actually I had quite a few but when I sat down to post… I forgot them all.
During the cousins reunion this last weekend we had a great time at south fork park in Utah. Playing in the river, food, soccer, etc… We actually had about 8 or 9 chairs set in the river in a circle and a bunch of us sat there talking while the kids played…
After a bit I went to play some soccer with the kids (please remember that the only times I have ever been hurt in soccer is while playing with kids…). We invited a few latino kids to join in, and naturally I had to show them some moves. I meged a few, turned one guy like he was a top, scored a few goals, and all of this while playing barefoot! (please note that the only time I have been hurt playing soccer was when I was not wearing proper shoes). Right at the climax of a fabulous move, which would have left the defender completely in the dust, I stepped wrong. I heard a sound reminiscent of someone snapping loudly, or possibly a pencil being cracked in two. It is amazing how quickly your mind can process things. I heard that snap, and even before the pain was able to think “that sounded like cracking a knuckle, but on my foot… Did I crack a toe or something?” The next thing I realized is that I was on the ground, the ball being stolen by a 10 year old (well actually he was 11, and latino, which as far as soccer skills go, would make him about like an 18 year old gringo). OUCH! and… my foot was hurting too. I stood up, and WHAM, I felt like someone stabbed me in the foot with a knife! “Darn” I mumbled… “I have a game tonight at 9:25. I hope this goes away.”
One thing lead to another (Just a little humor for Brian Regan fans) and I was sitting in the emergency room, feeling embarrassed by my toes, which had been stained green from the grass, and my right foot swollen about the size of an orange. I asked the Dr if he could have me patched up and out of there by 9:00, but he was not good enough to get that done. So here I am, my foot immobilized in a big old boot thingy (only because I convinced the Dr that I would really leave it on, and didn’t really need a cast), a set of xrays sitting next to me showing a really cool break, and 5 games left in the current season that I will miss.
Ah… Such is life I guess.
ps… If anyone says something about age being a factor, I would remind you that more people are hurt while NOT playing soccer, than those hurt while playing soccer. SO, it goes to show that playing soccer is a pretty safe bet!