I am not amongst those who are mesmerized by the Olympics, but I will turn them on occasionally out of a sense of duty. On Saturday morning, among other events, ski jumping was being featured. Aside from finding it boring in the present, I was reminded just how mind-numbing it was back in February 1994.
There I was, lying very uncomfortably on the floor in the middle of the night. I tuned the tv to The Games and was treated to ski jumping — hour after interminable hour, or so it felt like and still feels like in retrospect.
I had been mostly on the floor for weeks after a back attack of bulging discs. I could barely sit at the table long enough to eat a quick meal before the pain in my leg would become overwhelming, forcing me back to the floor. We had a waterbed at the time, which wouldn’t have been helpful for a misaligned back, so I also slept (sort of slept and sort of not slept) on a mattress on the floor beside the bed when I wasn’t lying downstairs in the family room
That particular morning, I had been about to leave for physio (I could drive that far in a few minutes) when I had a severe spasm that instantly put me onto the floor almost unable to move. I pretty well stayed there throughout that day and then throughout that long, lonely, miserable night. It was before the internet, and all that I had to occupy my hours was the tv, and all that the tv had on, or close enough anyway, were the Olympics. Unfortunately, the thing that was playing was ski jumping.
It was a rather dismal night. I don’t think I got any sleep in my uncomfortable predicament even though hour after hour of ski jumping should be enough to send anyone into a state of stupor.
I was more or less out of commission for two months, and my body has never been the same as it used to be since then.
So, on this past Saturday morning, as I sat in my chair, doing this or that on my tablet, probably reading blog posts, I was not at all amused to be aware of ski jumping being featured. After a time, I extricated myself from the chair, wobbled over to the computer, and turned it off because the ski jumping was only bringing me back to that miserable night within a miserable two months.
It happened thirty-two years ago, but I really don't require any reminders.
Ouch! How miserable. Did you ever have surgery to correct the problem?
ReplyDeleteWe haven't tuned in to any of the Olympics either. We did watch the miserable Super Bowl last night and see our favorite lose badly.
It was said that my particular condition could not be fixed surgically, but I’ve always wondered if that were correct.
DeleteIt sounds awful. I'd have thought watching ski jumping would make you tense your back, or is that just me?
ReplyDeleteWhat an horrible memory! I can relate, a bit. I once strained my back trying to lift something far too heavy, and spent a few days upright in a wooden rocking chair, as it was the only place I got some relief.
ReplyDeleteThat would likely have been a muscle spasm, and they can be very painful and debilitating. I’ve had those too. They generally last for a few days.
DeleteI haven't watched football or the Olympics since 1999 when we discontinued our satellite dish. I rarely even watch TV or do streaming anymore. However, music plays and plays in our house.
ReplyDeleteHow awful for you to have those back issues! Ouch and ouch. When I worked for a Chiropractor I finally learned about backs and bones and issues like that. It really opened my eyes.
I think the only Olympic thing I might enjoy watching would be figure skating. We used to watch that as a family and enjoyed it so much.
That is a history of suffering, AC. I wonder will there ever come a day when such ailments can be easily fixed. I won’t live to see it, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI don’t watch sports - not the Super Bowl, not the Olympics. Boring. Glad your back feels better.
ReplyDeleteSuch a terrible memory...and full of pain too. I am sorry that happened to you. I agree that some of the athletic events are boring at the Olympics...but I have good memories of enjoying figure skating with a high school pal when we re-connected via the internet...on our separate TV's for many years. I was thrilled by the US performances that I watched last night...edited by NBC of course so the lags in time were removed.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, the modern world has helped the Olympics tremendously. With my old cable service, I had only one channel showing the Olympics and was at the mercy of them and ski jumping, which I find pretty boring to watch too. But with online streaming services, I just tell it to record every Olympic event showing on a channel it receives. I can then press a button and usually have 20 or so different events I can choose from to watch. Recently I've been watching a lot of curling and pairs ice skating events. I also like to watch and marvel at the downhill ski events where they follow a course at 80+ miles per hour and occasionally break legs as happened yesterday. Makes me feel smarter for sitting in an easy chair snacking.
ReplyDeleteThat would turn anyone off on ski jumping, AC. As bad as my back has been it hasn't been that bad.I don't watch the Olympics or The Super Bowl.
ReplyDeleteI avoid Olympic coverage, not being interested in watching sports of any kind. What I do like to see is ice dancing -- but my preference is to see it in a replay, once we know that no one has fallen.
ReplyDeleteAs for lying abed for hours, I sometimes think about what I'd like to be hearing (not watching) if I were in bed unable to make requests for a change of entertainment. It would be CBC Radio, but I would be ever so irritated when programs contained rap "music," which grates upon my little pink ears. -Kate