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| − | Back to [[Airsoft Information]]
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| − | Originally posted Sun, 09 Sep 2007 / 19:25
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| − | This morning, Sunday, I woke up & could barely move.
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| − | It takes me the better part of thirty minutes to a hour to flex the kinks, strains & knots out in order to get myself quasi-mobile. I'm generally not the nicest person to be in proximity of during this first little while in the morning.
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| − | This is nothing new, and hasn't been, for the past ten months. Damn near every morning starts out this way. As many doctors & specialists have told me time & again, I will become accustomed to it. So far, so good. It is becoming "the routine". The norm.
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| − | This morning, however, was different. Sure, I hurt, just like every other morning, but when I finally pulled myself out of bed, dragged myself to the bathroom & looked in the mirror, I had a smirk on my face.
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| − | Yesterday was game day.
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| − | It was a great day - a fun day.
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| − | I played hard - pushed hard & laughed hard.
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| − | And today I'm paying for it.
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| − | So be it.
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| − | I've had a lot of people ask me, over the past several months, questions along the lines of "Is it a good idea for you to be playing airsoft?" or more specifically, & my personal favorite, "Why do you do this to yourself?"
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| − | Both valid questions, to be sure.
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| − | Some people are concerned for my well being, granted, others offer up dime store philosophies of "taking it easy on my self." I've tried to explain why I play, but more often then not, my explanations go over, or sound over, their heads. I never really gave their questions much thought until this morning.
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| − | Call it an epiphany, if you want.
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| − | There have been only two other organizations that I have been involved with, where I have felt completely at ease, where I fit, and where I felt I belonged. Organizations where I knew the people as family & friends, where we shared both the good and the bad. Where one minute you're at each others throats, and the next you're crying & laughing in your beers. One was the Infantry, the other was working Special FX & Firearms in the film industry.
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| − | I can say now, after playing airsoft for most of the spring and summer, that there is now a third group. Vancouver Op-For.
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| − | Follow the bouncing ball.
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| − | The past ten months have been a constant blur of doctor's appointments, medical assessments, prescription drugs, physiotherapy sessions, daily physical limitations, frustration & pain. Even though I returned to work back in July, physically speaking, I'm operating only around 70% to 80% of previous capabilities. At home, I have days where I want nothing to do with the outside world, simply because it hurts to move. But that's the way it is now & will be for the rest of my life, so say a goodly portion of the Canadian Medical establishment.
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| − | I've been sent to my fair share of Psycho-analysts, by way of WCB, Physio-Specialists, and various Doctors for various aspects of "Life Skills Retraining", "Physio-retraining" & "Pain Adjustment/Tolerance Programs" to become a Jewish Comedian. I know it's supposedly all in my best interests, but truthfully, it comes off as nothing more than "Cookie Cutter" medicine most times. Oft times I sit in their offices & all I hear coming from them is the equivalent of listening to Charlie Brown's teacher, "Wahn Wahn Wahn... Wahn Wahn..."
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| − | The week consists of work, home, pain - repeat - broken only by specialist visits to Richmond, Vancouver, North Vancouver, etc.
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| − | So what changed?
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| − | Airsoft.
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| − | Why?
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| − | I'm active again. I'm useful again. I'm having fun again.
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| − | And, perhaps, most importantly, I've met an outstanding group of people.
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| − | To borrow a line from the song, "Switching to Glide":
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| − | <blockquote>Nothing matters but the weekend.
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| − | From a Tuesday point of view.</blockquote>
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| − | Saturday - Game Day...
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| − | ...is the one day of the week that is for me and me alone.
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| − | Not work concerns.
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| − | Not home concerns.
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| − | Not doctors, not specialists, not counciling sessions.
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| − | Not worrying about medications, pain adjustment/tolerance or what have you.
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| − | Or how deeply it pains me when I'm scheduled to work on Saturday.
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| − | It's Game Day, damn it.
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| − | Everything else goes on the back burner, if only for a short time.
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| − | The day belongs to me and the rest of the world can wait on hold.
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| − | Sure I'm going to pay for it in exhaustion & pain, but you know what? I'm there, already. From my point of view, it's worth it.
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| − | I'm going out to get active, to get the adrenaline flowing, to get some exercise, to meet & hang out with some great people & above all to have fun with life, despite everything & everyone else. I've accomplished more with my involvement in airsoft, I feel, than could possibly be accomplished in a thousand pyhsio/counciling sessions.
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| − | My wife thinks it's great. My Doctors, Physiotherapists & Specialists think it great for me to be active like this - who the hell am I to argue with that kind of support. These people far out weigh those who feel it necessary, in their minds, for me to take it easy & not be so hard on myself.
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| − | Yes, it means that much to me.
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| − | Yes, I enjoy the sport that much.
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| − | I'm grateful, beyond words, for being a part of it.
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| − | As a Club, you have my sincerest thanks.
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| − | And with that...
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| − | Bar's open!
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| − | Have at 'er!!
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| − | == Comments ==
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