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+---- Thread: Blaise's Bookshelf - Vol 8 (/showthread.php?tid=10007)
Blaise's Bookshelf - Vol 8 - McTruffles - 2026-06-22
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The transition to the Minor League with Krung Thep FC has started exactly the way we wanted, securing a hard-fought 3-2 away win against North Shore United. Between moving to a new squad, settling into a different dressing room, and hitting the training pitch full blast, it has been an incredibly hectic week. With all the chaos, I didn’t have the time to dive into a massive novel, so I picked up something short and sweet: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic short story, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
The story follows a man who is born old and wrinkly, and inexplicably ages backward. This makes him grow physically younger, faster, and more vital as the years pass. It is a quick, sharp tale about time and breaking free from the traditional expectations of aging. As I stepped onto the pitch for Matchday 1, I realized why this specific story had been on my mind. A decade ago, my playing career in the real world came to a natural end. By all normal football standards, my time at the top was done. Yet, here I am in the Minor League, surrounded by hungry rookies, feeling a completely new wind. My energy is back, my legs feel explosive, and the atmosphere in this young dressing room has given me an entirely new lease on life. It genuinely feels like I am aging in reverse.
In the story, Benjamin takes some time to adjust to his changing reality, finding himself caught between the wisdom of his actual years and the physical capabilities of his younger body. I felt that on the pitch against North Shore. I played the full 90 minutes, kept my passing clean at over 86%, and held my own, but the final product (the goal) wasn't there yet. I’m still figuring out how to balance the experience in my head with the raw youth in my legs. However, we took all three points on the road, and things are undeniably looking up. Fitzgerald's story is a quick reminder that living life out of order gives you a unique appreciation for the journey. I’m not worried about the scoresheet just yet. Meanwhile, I’m just enjoying the feeling of getting younger with every matchday.
Rating: 4.5/5 Next Week: TBD