This past week was amazing.  I picked up my courage and got bold.  One area of recovery is my physical health -- to rebuild my strength, endurance, and energy. 

The last time I played basketball in a 'competitive' setting -- i.e. playing on one team against another team with a point score to win a game -- was August 6th, 2021 in a loosely managed 4-4 half court game with my then 8th grade son and his friends. (see outdoor picture)  We lost the one game we played and one of my son's friends who was on the middle school hoop team, friendly talked some trash; I realized I my shot making ability was non existent, and that I had difficulty going actively for rebounds.  

A source of personal joy and energy for past 30 years without expending much, tends to be cheering on our home team, NBA dynasty Golden State Warriors, who have won 4 titles in the past 10 years and are often considered perennial title contenders year in and year out.  This year-round energy adds to my own, and after a rough 2022-23 year for the Dubs, this coming 2023-24 year feels especially exciting and energizing.  The timing feels ripe for me, too, to prepare and return to the court in a dedicated way. 

I've started getting some activity once a week, mild shooting drills at a local outdoor court here and there, when I take my son to his volleyball park.  I identify five spots around the basket inside the 3 pt line (not ready to embark on that yet!) and shooting 10 per spot, and doing one to two sets that result in 50-100 total shots.  Some days, I cajole my 8th grade daughter, to join me and pass me the ball and help me get in some type of rhythm!  I add doing weekly pushups (3 sets of 10), to build up chest strength. 

Last week, I was encouraged to slowly get back in the game by some of the guys I used to run full court with before COVID, inside at the Oakland Chinatown recreation center (the one Kevin Durant when he was Warrior, helped refurbish -see picture).  They are weekdays with lunch-time male hoopsters from 30 yrs to mid 50s-- no high flyers but simply team guys who don't talk trash, just like to run and play.  Before playing, though, I got my 1st vaccination -- the latest Covid bivalent.  The Stanford Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) Transplant program guidelines require that aside from the covid shot, to wait 12 months from transplant before getting my full set of vaccinations which were wiped out by the transplant.  So I had decided to wait until the largest healthcare strike in US history (Kaiser employees) stopped -- it went 5 days-- to then get in the 150 person line at the hospital (only 30 minutes of time) for my shot.  I felt mild side effects from this one (sore shoulder, light sore throat, slight fatigue and body ache) for the next 4 days.  Then, it was time to make my return to hoops!

So the 1st day, I did one game of 2 on 2 by twos and threes, to 21 pts.  The guys were kind and gentle with me, and I made 6 of 10 shots, worked up a light sweat, and called it a day.  I was elated to do 'give and go', rebound, defend in the paint, set screens, and come off screens for the mid range shot-- swish! The first time I also had a phantom fall on a drive to the hoop from the top of the key (I called it the "Jordan Poole fall", LOL).

The next several days, my body, although slightly fatigued, felt good overall -- no soreness, no aches!  The 2nd day I returned, I upped my activity and got in three full court games of 4 on 4, as our team won 2 of 3, and I shot 50%.  I fell twice this time, with my glasses popping off my face, once as I scrambled for a loose ball, and the second time when I got knocked down by a guy 30 lbs heavier and 3 inches taller, on a help defense rotation.  "Welcome back!" I was told witha smile... after the games, I made 8 of 10 elbow shots.  My recovery this time around took 3+ days for my body to feel 'back'.  

My new goals now?  To touch the 10 foot rim again, and be able to shoot normal 3 pters at a 50% clip.  I can do it, I will do it, and it will happen!  Amen.