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I've found that if you neglect to do certain things, you eventually forget about them, and it is only a small memory of yesteryear or a reminder that makes you realize that one does need to act. Of this, I feel sometimes I need a personal organizer or to remember that laziness is still one of my stronger traits.

Acting on impulse, I drove home only to remember that an old basketball mate, Steve, was playing tonight at my local basketball stadium, where I spent a good 10+ years organizing friends to play basketball. As I come and go in their lives I have seen them get married, have numerous children, become a support to their ear and a friend which has been a privilege.

On coming home Steve's wife had already sent me an email (fate one would say?) reminding me of the starting time he was playing tonight. Feeling this to be a good sign to pull on some jeans and head on down to the courts to watch some old school community basketball.

As I walked into the courts I was greeted with the familiar smell of sweat and squeaking of rubber soles, along with the beeps and buzzes which came from the rickety scoreboard that each team member helped man on the sides of the courts. I smiled seeing kids I used to play against now grown men, and older men I used to size up still playing along and looking still as mean, although wearing the occasional strap or support on a joint.

I forgot about the joy I got from walking into this place and the value it has placed in my life along with the random connections of not only my basketball friends but other friends who have trodden the floors to a different kind of beat. My introduction to the rave scene (Al to click here) was in this place at 4am returning home on New Years Day circa 1996 - later finding out in life that some of people dancing were experiencing the same thing and have now become life long friends (even though finding out Dyewitness never actually played there that night - it still opened my eyes up).

Ray was still behind the counter met me with a smile and a
"You're back? Who you playing with?" and my reply with a smile and a shake of the head "I'm here to see Steve actually."
Finding out from her he was playing on court 2 and remembering at the same time that her real name was Lily and she hated people calling her that. I'll tease her late.

As I trundled over getting the occasional pat on the back and smile from people I have not seen for near well over 7 years brought a beaming smile back at them. With a customary slap of the hand or touch of fist, which I always felt very uncool doing and seemed to usually miss or manage to screw up somehow, it felt like old times again. Yet I had hit my thirties and have piled on a solid 15 more kilos and felt as mobile as the Energizer bunny's Grey counterparts.

Seeing Steve and finding out all the gossip made me smile, and even made me want to shoot hoops again. I felt nervous as the orange globe now looked foreign. Sinking the first bucket made me realize that I still had a gram left of grace, shortly lived when Steve was saying 'I bet you can still dunk it too.' Only to have me miss the ring completed and sail underneath the backboard with my calves burning in the pain.

"We're short a man."
"Some things never change." I reply to Steve, knowing that it became a regular occurrence in community basketball competitions.
"Here's some shorts.. lets get you geared up."
"You what...." my outcry and surprise that the next 40 minutes would have me running, of which I also have not done for well over two years, outside of intoxication.

The next 40 minutes was one of the most painful discoveries to my body. The shoes I'm wearing are at no time appropriate or helpful and muscles forgotten about were dancing the joy of spasm. We won though, I scored zip however as per usual guarded the key like a viking warrior and actually rebounded most of the game (Hurray me!). Please note that running the full length of the court was very infrequent.

I'm now registered and in a team and set to play next Wednesday. Although my body is not overly impressed with this rash decision. I was grateful though, as many people know that I have only the height which helped me exert defence in basketball. The remainder I needed most of all in basketball (mainly bouncing the ball in a co-ordinated manner) lacked.

Visiting places and seeing old friends is not a burden as it seems. Encountering the bizarre chain of events that may happen while doing so is all part of the process. Although it seemed like a spur of the moment thing to do - it reminded me how privileged I have been.

As Steve put it too me and I wholeheartedly agreed with him as I stood outside his house.
'....we're all lucky to be here and sometimes people just don't see it, like when they're at work complaining about [trivial] things. I try and remind them....'

As he said this - it blew a chord with my mentality of late. As I listened to what I have missed out in his life and family it made me humble and appreciate that the old friends and scenes should always be remembered and that stretching should be mandatory while exerting your body to unprecedented levels of exercise.