A Day at a Time

A few weeks ago I hurt one of my toes. It's the big one on my right foot. I don't know, one day it was fine and the next it wasn't. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is bad on several levels. When walking I can't properly roll off my toes now, so that it looks as if I were über hip hop. I put on my headphones and people start to nod at me, mouthing words like, yo whassup man. In reality they probably just ask for the time, but it still makes me think about a life as a gangster.

No, but really, it bugs me a lot. I can't skate, even though the weather has been freaking beautiful these days. I guess that's the biggest constraint, to keep myself off the streets. And it's always at times like these that I want to go out and try new tricks the most. Frontside flips, switch heels and nollie tres. Backside five-ohs, front crooks and back tails. There are so many tricks I want to learn. It requires lots of practice, a good portion of confidence, and then some more practice.

My weekend basketball sessions, too. I need all ten toes to play the best game I have. It's not much, but I enjoy every second of it. Offence as much as defence. Actually defence a bit more, I think. To steal the ball from an eager player of the opponent team, to see how he gets pissed off a little, the sweet humiliation and the pressure of getting it back, especially when the score is tight and a hot dinner plus a cool beer are at stake, that's just priceless. I can't believe my stupid toe.

I don't know what exactly is wrong with it, but as a long-time skater and owner of the aching toe I would say it's not more than a sprain. I sort of try to enjoy it, what else is there to do, but it's hard to see the positive things in it. Still I try. And it does already feel better than say, ten days ago. I can walk with less swag now, that's good. I can walk longer distances again – longer for my standards – , not being dependent on the bus when I walk to school. Things are getting a little better each day.