Continuing a run of at least four new year seasons, I’m ailing yet again.
After a cold, covid, the flu and another cold, this new year I’ll be welcoming in with a case of lumbago.
Worse still, I owe it to a case of hubris, having twinged my back by bending too quickly to pet a neighbor’s dog because I fancied myself as having something of a magic touch with pooches.
The immobilizing pain over the past few days has become a constant reminder to be a bit more thoughtful in my actions.
One benefit has been slowing me down enough to enjoy playing with the dinosaur and gazing at the garden, including the Fountain of Strewth, which has been spraying spectacularly since its move into direct morning sunlight to power its pump.
But there was also some sad news when I found out on Facebook this morning about the death of John Nix. He had played for Richmond and ran the newsagency in my hometown. He was the first top league Aussie Rules player I got to know personally and led to me becoming a Tigers fan. He had turned 93 on Christmas Day. May he rest in peace.
