I have decided to stop feeling guilty about being alive! Why you ask? Because I just realized today that I was owed this extra chance. It all goes back about 40 years when I lost the big coin toss. What was at stake was the opportunity to wear the relatively new brown overshoes, or the definitely not new, hand me down from my sisters, "red" boots. The coin tosser was of course Dad, and the other contestant was brother Bill. I dont know if he would have suffered as much as I did over those boots but probably so. I remember as if it were yesterday, the first time I had to wear them. It was to Sunday morning mass. Of course I was an altar boy, and I remember as if it were yesterday, trying to slink into the church and get those boots off before anyone had a chance to see upon who's feet they arrived. So that's why I have decided not to feel quilty any longer. I was owed, damn it.
This incident was one of the many similar challenges I had growing up with 3 older sisters always taking care of me, and 3 littler ones that I had to take care of. In so many ways I resented both sets. Brothers were much easier to care about, because generally I didnt care about them.
Of course all that stuff is long gone and now replaced with admiration and gratitude. Today was just another day of what has become routine help from my sisters. All I had to do was ask for inspiration and I got it. I got practical advice and emotional advice. Primarily however I got the message that they had expectations of me. No problem! I shall live up to their expectations. After all they are my sisters!
What started out as a really tough day, sore back and poor spirits, gradually turned into quite a good day. I managed to get my 25k in as planned despite somewhat tough conditions, mainly the wind. I was a bit slower than my previous longer effort, but the good news is that my heart rate was definitely lower for the whole 2 hours, 25 mins, and 44 seconds. It never went over 140 until the last 10 minutes or so. Despite feeling tired this was a great indication of improved cardiovascular fitness. To top off my training day, I had a very good swim tonite. My strategy has been to work on my stroke before I worry too much about endurance, and that strategy is working. I swam a kilometre in 22 mins, and 45 seconds. To put that in perspective, my first attempt at this distance a few weeks ago took 30 minutes, and just this past weekend 25 minutes. Once I get this down to 20 mins I will start working on my swim endurance.
That's it with the exception of todays declaration of things I hate.
1) green slimy dental flu0ride
2) hearing aids....lets see how long I can hold off
3)weight training
4)stretching
5)beets...I've never tried them, and I hate them!
And the only reason for another 'things I hate' is so I have an excuse to show you something else I love....more than life itself!!
I wish to dedicate day 41 to my sister in law Linda, who has always felt like a kid siter to me.
"You keep your past by having sisters. As you get older, they're the only ones who don't get bored if you talk about your memories." -- Deborah Moggach
love
peter
2 comments:
Good morning! I like Teresa'a idea of smuggling weapons, or ... what she called it... And you know I could care less whether or not you cross that finish line in the lovely okanoga, but I'll be really ticked if you're not at the start line. I already have my vacation booked for that time and with no where to go it won't be much fun. So quit your whining and get back at it. Because of you I am not smoking, I get up every morning and do my cardio with Joy, and what was a slow walk 2 weeks ago is now intermittent running (for short sprints - to anyone watching it may not look like running but I'm the one doing it and I'm telling you, its running!!!) I would also be eating better but I threw out all my pots when I moved, and I had to give my microwave back. However they let me keep my ironing board, and I don't even know what its for!
If you didn't have those low days and slow days, you would have no real appreciation for the great days, so accept them as the gifts they are before they are gone. The good times will be so much better because you had the bad ones. See you in B.C.
All my love forever.
For me it was the brown plaid pants, the joys of growing up behind three brothers(Stella got the blue ones). When we moved to Guelph 6 months ago 1 was seriously winded just walking up our street. We do live on a hill. But now, as my daughter says, I power walk up the hill and feel damn good doing it. I have a long way to go before I am at a place where I am happy with my body, but I noticed this week that my thighs are a little smoother, not spectacular by any stretch, but i noticed a difference. Don't quit on me now I need you! and I love you very much.
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