Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Monday that there were 102 new positive cases of COVID-19 in B.C. over the previous three days, many linked to an event in Kelowna. A couple of restaurants in the Tri-Cities also had cases.
As the province starts to relax the restrictions, there are two aspects to consider. First is the fact the virus isn’t gone, it can appear very quickly and is still very contagious. The second issue is that many people have been sitting around for the past few months, and getting back to regular activities, especially when you are a bit older, needs to be done carefully. In either case, the last place you want to end up is in the hospital.
I’ve been pretty careful when I go out. I take my mask, I keep my distance, I stay home when I can to avoid the virus. I’m in the second category. I like to think of myself as pretty active – I play hockey, slo-pitch, I try to jog and stay fit. So when Phase 3 hit and a group of guys who I play hockey with said they wanted to play a little pick-up slo-pitch, I jumped at the chance.
Apparently, that wasn’t a good idea.
I’ve played slo-pitch for about 30 years, but hadn’t played with these guys before, so I wanted to make a good impression. I pitch as well, mainly because I can’t throw from the outfield like I used to be able to. But three months of limited movement (it was a rainy spring after all) and chores around the house took their toll on me.
It was so nice being back on the field, feeling a bit normal again. My pitching was good, the bat was working and we were up by a few runs. It wasn’t until my at bat in the fourth inning that I ran into a problem.
I clobbered a great pitch, and just as I came around, my back yelled, “Enough.” I couldn’t walk, let alone run. The guys – you know, the ones I was trying to make a good impression with – helped me back to the dugout. As I sat there, wondering if I’d be able to walk to my car, I must have passed out. The next thing I knew, one of the guys was holding my neck as I was staring at the ceiling of the dugout.
Thank goodness for the great staff at Delta Hospital and the BC Ambulance Service. It was nothing serious, just a real pain in the back.
Stay safe, wear your mask, don’t overdo it and be sure to stretch before exercise. Being cooped up for a few months might have a bigger effect that you think.
Brad Sherwin, MBA is a long-time resident of South Delta, and has over 30 years’ experience in marketing, public relations and business strategy. He teaches marketing at Douglas College, coaches hockey goalies and is past president of Deltassist.
