Aging

RE: “riding your LHMB.....” Once you get to be my age, you realize there are certain things you can’t do any more.
I realize it’s hard for someone in their 40s, even late 40s, to swallow this. They feel fine now.
A couple of weeks ago my niece and her husband visited. —Hubby is the guy with the incredible chop that makes Jack’s GeezerGlide look like what it is: a wuss-bike.
They congratulated us on our retirement (Linda pending), and suggested we now had time for travel.
“Great idea,” I said, “but we’re kind of beyond that.”
I’m sure there’ll be some travel. In a few weeks we’re supposed to fly down to the great land of the shadow of the mighty DeLand water-tower to help Linda’s mother celebrate her 90th birthday.
But I think the long hoped-for trip to Alaska is out. Driving to Rachel’s wedding is also out.
Hubby is 46. To him travel would be gadding all over the country, like we did years ago in the E250, camping out every night and cooking out.
I can no longer do that.
A few years ago the range-hood fan gave up — it’s outside on the roof (we didn’t want to listen to a fan blasting away over the stove).
I had to climb on the roof — which was scary. I’m not that stable anymore. I was afraid of doing a Jack.
So “rid(ing) the LHMB” is now debatable. I’m pretty sure I could still do it. It ain’t the same as driving a car, but in many ways it is. The precautions I take driving a car are the same ones I take riding a motorbike. In fact, on a motorbike I am more cautious.
I also no longer have the main reason I rode motorbike — which was riding to work. Now I’d be riding just to ride — which is different, because it isn’t a repeatable known route.
Even for pleasure — i.e. over variable routes — I still feel I could ride. I still can drive — no problem.
About a year ago a young Sports-reporter at the mighty Mezz made a comment about staying in shape the rest of his life. He was in his early 30s, and in questionable shape as it was.
“No you won’t,” I said. “Take it from me. You’re getting older right now; which means over time you will age, develop pains, and become unsteady on your feet. You won’t be able to exercise at the level you need.”
He looked at me as if I was some kind of nut.
“This is now, I said. “It all seems attainable now. But what about in 20 years?”
Continuing to ride motorbike will be a function of whether my doctor says I might have more episodes, or some mental damage has already been done.
I’d like to keep riding, but may have to sell.