Just before sunset on the 24th of November, I interrupted my pity party with a drive to the beach at Oceanside Harbor. This is a mellow beach, rock jetties on both sides. A nice beach for rehab.
I'm in bad shape with 3 spinal fusion surgeries behind me and in need of a second lumbar fusion, so just getting there and gently kicking with fins for 15 minutes in the 60 degree, calm water was refreshing for my 67 year-old beat up body. As my motto reads way below the post, I still do have hope. My long-term goal is still to swim the Oceanside Pier again with no gear, just goggles and swim cap.
A few photos below:
I probably should have shut this old swim blog down a few years ago because I rarely even get wet anymore. But,,a glimmer of past hope and my deep love of the cold swim at the beaches persists. There is just some special quality that cold, ocean water transfers into my brain.
A couple of days before Thanksgiving. Very low tide, few people, and a few surfers, as waves were 1-2 feet. I'm thankful for our home, these beautiful beaches, California easy living, a new grandson...our first...two kids now grown and prospering--both Oceanside homeowners.
The distant pier photo shows the burned down building at the end of the pier.
Don't get old, people. When we get these disk and spinal injuries as young adults, we may be fortunate and get thirty years of pain free life before we fall apart. BUT, when age comes, it brings arthritis, dried-out discs, vertebral disintegration, facet joint craziness, compressed nerves that introduce one to a new level of pain and disability.
