"Running Commentary"
Little’a This, Little’a That
HOMEWARD BOUND … I’m heading home. Due to Covid-19, I haven’t been back to Colorado since the first day of February – four months and counting. Wonder if the house will still be there. Wonder if my girlfriend will be IN the house when I arrive.
Hope not – she’s picking me up at the airport.
Melissa is a child of 59 and remains very much a “working girl” who has worked out of her home for years, telecommuting and hosting online meetings long before it became de rigueur due to the pandemic. She also travels across the country to meet with clients; although, Covid-19 has definitely impacted her ability to collect frequent flyer miles.
‘Lissa is a CPA / Software Architect at an International consulting firm, largest on the planet with over 500,000 employees worldwide. Me? I’m a carefree, good for nuthin’ rascal well into my 10th year of retirement. I’d call that a pretty good match.
Anytime ‘Lissa is feeling glum about work, I punch her gently in the arm and encourage her with this uplifting thought – “Someone has to bring home the bacon.”
Thank God it’s her.
THE BACK PORCH … Mother and I were sitting outside, enjoying the fresh breeze on another warm morning. Mother opined that she was feeling good about her day.
Get this! Well before the clock stuck nine, Mother had fed the dog; completed two crosswords and one cryptoquip puzzle; finished breakfast; cleaned the kitchen; read a chapter in her crime novel; taken a shower; washed and folded laundry; and, won a couple of Free Cell games on her computer.
Mother considered it a good start.
I looked at her with a wrinkled smile. “A good day? REALLY? Listen! When you are 99 years old and less than five months away from three digits? EVERY day is a good day.”
Mother laughed. And consistent with that thought, the Iron Lady wakes up with a smile on her face and one life-sustaining thought – “One more day!” It’s her first thought, every waking morning.
And isn’t that what each of us should be thinking in these terrible times our country is enduring? One more day – I’m alive to enjoy one more day with my family.
Life is too serious to be taken seriously.
But it should never be taken for granted.
THE DAILY CONSTITUTIONAL … It was hot under the sun, but that didn’t stop Mother from taking her daily constitutional around the block. She misses her exercise classes at the Senior Center; but, she’s been building strength back gradually with these walks.
Three weeks ago, Mother surprised me with a spontaneous demonstration. Walking across the living room, Mother mimicked an elderly person struggling to walk with teeny, tiny, baby steps.
Mother boldly said, “I’ll never do that. I’m never going to take tiny steps like some old lady … not so long as I’m perpendicular to the ground and not parallel to it. I’m going to take bold strides, like this …” And Mother marched across the room in bold strides.
Any wonder why we call her the Iron Lady?
Today, as we walked under the hot sun, Mother surprised me with a confession – she isn’t as strong as she used to be. There are times when she feels weak.
I gave her my standard incredulous, disbelieving look. “You’re losing a little strength? Well, stop the presses with that news.” Hey, everyone! Front page headline – you tend to lose strength when you reach the age of 100!
Whoda’thunkit?
ACCOUNTABILITY UPDATE … My weight continues to drop. I’m down to 174 – that’s 46 lbs. of blubber I’ve shed since January 1st, when I weighed in at an all-time high 220. Blood pressure this morning was a healthy 94/62. My weight goal is 162 – only 12 lbs. to go.
After every morning workout, I send an accountability update to Melissa and my youngest daughter Sara, an RN at University of Virginia Hospital. Sara is a phenomenal athlete in her own right, who has a long range goal of running the Philadelphia Marathon in her old hometown.
In 1991, my then 13 year-old daughter accompanied me to the Boston Marathon. I had no doubt Sara would be OK on her own while I ran the race.
Afterward, and before I had gotten back to the hotel, Sara took the elevator down from the top floor of the Marriott Copley where we stayed, near the finish line.
When the elevator door opened, she saw two athletic looking guys already in the elevator who also wanted to go down. Sara couldn’t resist bragging – her dad had run in the marathon. She asked if they had run. Both runners nodded.
One of the men pointed to the other and said, “He beat me.”
Indeed, Sara had ridden in the elevator with the top two winning runners who finished first and second overall in the 1991 Boston Marathon, a Kenyan and an Ethiopian. They had already showered and changed into street clothes, on their way to a victory party with race sponsors.
How did I do in 1991? It was my very first Boston. I was delighted with my time; however, I can assure you – I didn’t finish third.
That’s a wrap for this week, Kiddos. Be safe!
R Michael Owens is a retired lounge lizard and raconteur.