Who’s getting older?

Last Wednesday, I was out for my usual midweek training ride. I like going south the past 15 years or so, when the roads were widened. Before that I hated to ride south because of the narrow roads and the crazy bus drivers that ply the route.

These days, the roads are 4 lanes in most areas and as long as you go out early, traffic shouldn’t be an issue. Wednesday, I always go down to Lutopan via the Naga-Uling Road and then make my way back via Lutopan and then come out at the Don Andres Soriano School.

Most days, I’d take an energy drink at the 7-11 in front of Mt Carmel Church but that day, their fridge wasn’t working (as usual) so I made my way up and stopped at a general merchandise store at the foot of the DAS school and ordered a Gatorade. I noticed a group of students smoking cigarettes, maybe cutting classes since it was past 8am.

As I was drinking the Gatorade, one chubby-ish kid asked me in a loud voice, “Tay, gikan pa ka sa syudad?” I was taken aback as it was the first time somebody called me by that name. I have been called Uncle, Tio, Lolo- I know it was not to make fun of me but out of respect. But “Tay” was different. So instead of drinking half of the bottle, I decided to drink it all, albeit slowly, waving my hand and pointing to the general direction of the city and hoping that the kid would go away.

To my surprise, he waited until I drank all of my Gatorade and asked again, “Tay, Cebu paka mo-oli?” This time, I nodded to answer, pretending I was too tired to speak. I was thinking of maybe slapping him at the back of his head for being discourteous. Then he and his posse walked away.

A few moments later, it hit me. I am old. I never think of myself as old but this time, even with skin tight lycra, decent bike, a pair of Oakley’s, I was looking my age. And the kid was not disrespectful, he was very, very respectful and his parents should be proud of him. I guess it was because of my salt and pepper beard, and I’m positive I don’t have a 5 o’clock shadow.

The whole week I was amused by that incident and I told my wife and my kids and they all laughed at me. And I laughed at myself some more.

Then last Sunday, at the Mandaue Reclamation Area, where we have this weekly criterium, I realized how lucky I am to be able to do what I love to do at my age- race bikes! I am also lucky and grateful that Mayor Jonas Cortes of Mandaue has closed a portion of the recall for us, and he included traffic and first aid personnel. I am also lucky that there are still lots of 50 year olds in the category I am racing. They beat me most times and I beat them some times, which is okay with me.

And what made the week starting that fateful Wednesday a positive week for me was that during yesterday’s the crit, I finished in 4th place. The winner, the ageless Boy Pagnanawon, was 64. At 5th place was another SC, Ricky Ermitanio at 63. Me, I’ll be 59 next month so all in all, it wasn’t bad. We three are at the wrong end of our cat but we did exceptionally well, beating those “younger 50’s”.

So if a young kid tells you you’re old, tell them they’d be lucky to reach your age. I’m sure he’ll go find a corner, tail between his legs.