Quit While You're Ahead

Despite record-low temps overnight (45 degrees), it warmed up nicely so I was actually anxious to go for a walk in the sunshine this afternoon.

As I was heading out, Carter was shooting hoops in the driveway. I noticed Daddy had raised the hoop to regulation height (10 feet, I think). I said to Carter, "Wow, that looks high. Let's see if I can make a shot."

So I grab the ball and from about a free-throw distance, toss it up and swish! Nothing but net!

Carter exclaims, "Ohmigosh, Mom! I can't believe it! It's like magic. Here you haven't shot a basketball in 30 years and you make your first shot! Oh my gosh."

I don't know why he was thinking that it had been that long. I guess he really thinks I'm old and I've done nothing since I was his age. So I grab the ball and say, "Let me see if I can do it again." Aaaiiiiirrrrr Baaaallll! Not even close. I should have quit while I was ahead.

In retrospect, I bet to a person, we all wish we would have quit something while we were ahead. Maybe we should have cashed out at the casino sooner instead of whittling our winnings down to nothing-plus. Maybe we should have shut our mouths before we said too much and either hurt someone's feelings or dug ourselves in a bigger hole.

I bet Tom Watson wishes he could have quit the Bristish Open after the third round and taken the Claret Jug home rather than fall apart in a playoff for the championship after the fourth round. To his credit, that would have been against the rules so he wisely played again today (just not as well as I had hoped).

When do we wisely quit while we're ahead? I think I am getting better at it when it comes to my back anyway. How many times did I have to injure it before I finally say "No, I shouldn't lift that," "Nope, don't need to try waterskiing, I'll just watch," "Naw, I'll pass on wrenching my back by golfing." Well, I haven't totally wisened up.

I guess we can't always quit while we're ahead. Otherwise all we'd have is success stories. No could have beens or should have beens. No close calls. No reason to try again. No more lessons to learn. The hard way.

What fun would that be?

Give me that basketball. Let me try a 3-pointer!