Feeling Old

The other day, I went out to run. As I started out, I noticed my right knee was hurting, just a little. Just like it’s been for the last few years. Nothing horrible, but annoying. But when I was younger, my knee never hurt. That made me feel a little old, honestly. But that wasn't the worst thing.

As I was running, I decided to run by a corner that’s been closed for a few weeks because of construction. Actually, it’s a pain running there, because I have to hop from the sidewalk, over construction, to the street, and around some machinery, enduring the “what the hell are you doing here?” looks from the workers. A few years ago, I would have avoided it. But I realized that as I get older, I also get more nosy. Which is the reason I wanted to check the corner out. So yeah, I realized I was getting old. But that wasn't the worst thing.

A mile or so later, I found myself running through the parking lot of the hospital, and I noticed there are some houses that are not 30 yards from the new wing of the hospital. And I remember actually thinking “now that would be a convenient place to live.” Really. Who thinks that living next to a hospital is convenient? Certainly not young healthy people. I was personally disgusted with myself! But that wasn't the worst thing.

As I approached 4 miles, I was running on the sidewalk in front of the hospital, because the street there is pretty busy. As I was about to cross the hospital driveway, a bus pulled up, ready to turn onto the street. Now there’s a line painted on the road, marking where the bus is supposed to stop. And if the bus had stopped there, I could have run right on by. But do you think the driver stopped at the line? Of course not. No, she pulled all the way up to the road, even though her view was not blocked in any way. So of course I had to run all the way BEHIND the bus. And seeing that was probably the third vehicle that day that had done that, I was a little frustrated. (even though I actually routinely do exactly what the bus driver did!) And I remember thinking to myself “I’m going to write a letter to the editor about this. Drivers have to be more aware of pedestrians, yada yada yada…”  At which point I stopped short and realized: this is something my dad would have done in his later years. And I thought “My God, I've become old!”

I've always wondered when I would become old. Well, now I know: 3.92 miles into my run on May 9, 2014. I’m now officially old.

And THAT is the worst thing.