It's Hard for Me to Live with Me by Rex Chapman

Author:Rex Chapman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2024-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

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Dell and Muggsy can’t believe it when I tell them the news. They are so shocked, they aren’t even mad that I hadn’t invited them to the wedding. I’m not sure what surprises them more: that I had gotten married so quickly or that my wife is white. Either way, it is going to be a major adjustment for me, and I will have to manage my new reality without letting it affect my performance on the court.

With everything going on in my personal life, my training is nowhere near what it needs to be—and it shows. When you’re out of shape, you’re just begging to get injured, so right away I pull my hamstring in training camp. Then I try to come back too soon, which is another mistake, because if you are playing hurt, you compensate in other areas of your body, and the problem snowballs. I eventually develop plantar fasciitis in my foot. I try to play through the pain by taking Novocain shots, but the team shuts me down in early December.

This whole time, Bridget has been working back in Lexington as an elementary school teacher. She comes and visits me on weekends. Even though we are married, we are still getting to know each other. I get the sense that we aren’t clicking, but I have no frame of reference because I don’t know what marriage is supposed to be like. The thing I am realizing most is that Bridget and I are two very different people. I like to be silly and laugh all the time, and she is just the opposite. She is also a much bigger planner than I am—but then again, so are most people.

I notice how welcoming everyone is to Bridget, especially back home, even though they barely know her. They sure didn’t extend that same courtesy to Shawn, whom they all knew well. This only adds to my resentment.

Our original plan was for Bridget to finish out the school year and then move in with me permanently. That is, until she tells me she is pregnant. As usual, it is a huge life decision that I didn’t plan for, but I am happy about it. We decide then that she will quit teaching and live full-time in Charlotte.

In February, I find out that I am being traded to the Washington Bullets. That is a really weird feeling. It is the first time in my life I am on a team that doesn’t want me. Bridget and I move to DC as quickly as we can so I can continue my rehab for my foot. I get myself well enough that I am able to play in the final regular season game at Philadelphia. I have 10 points in 22 minutes and miss both three-pointers I take. I am glad to be back in a game, but I have a long off-season ahead. I am determined to make the most of my fresh start.

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