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I am fighting off the last of the Viral Bronchitis, and had to take my Arthritis Meds for a short flare, that I think was triggered by the weeks of steroids, but once they wore off the arthritis decided to announce its presence.
And so I chatted with my wife about how lucky I was to have my full health for so long, and good health for a lot longer...and even now, I am lucky to have enough health to enjoy parts of my day. And sometimes the whole day.
My best friend Eddie (RIP Buddy!) took this shot of me, just horsing around at a park with a hoop. I was in my late thirties, and could still offer up a good quarter of Basketball...and two quarters if I didn't have to play defense.
Some folks think we take our youth for granted. I don't think so. I think we don't know any better. It is just there for us.
I remember working full time, going out dancing, then eating at an all night greasy spoon, and getting home in time to shower and go back to work. Not night after night, but often enough to know how to plan for it. LOL
And if something happened, like an ankle sprain, or a pulled muscle...couple days rest, some hydration, and that was it. Right back to full health.
I rarely got sick after Grade School. For more than three decades, I can only remember the Flu once, and down in New Zealand I got a doozy of an infection in my lungs. And I tore my Hamstring showing off at a Dance contest.
And that was it.
And then I hit sixty. And sixty hit back. After the operations, I got healthy ...again. But then I hit seventy...and seventy hit back ...harder. And still my body prefers to be healthy. I don't have the big ones...no cancer, no diabetes, no heart disease. But I do have the two kinds of Arthritis...one reacts to repetitive movements, and the other is inflammatory. When they both decide to go off together and do their thing...well, all I can hope for is for less pain.
And even on those bad days, I have good moments. I have people around me who care, the kids and grandkids, and I am still mobile enough to dress myself, and do household stuff.
Sure the canes, the walker, and the wheelchair are all in the Closet. But today, don't need them. So today, is the day I stay in. Might need them again in the future, but that is so far away from today, I don't even think about it.
My Best friend Eddie said when he retired that his Motto became: "Mañana Bro." That almost everything can be put off until tomorrow when you really think about it. So he floated through his days.
My other friend, ever since he turned 80 (14 years ago!) says he doesn't count on tomorrow any more. Sure he makes plans to send out cards, or go to functions, but he doesn't worry about it. As he is fond of saying:
"Kevin, I don't even buy green bananas."
Yep. I am there now too.
And so I chatted with my wife about how lucky I was to have my full health for so long, and good health for a lot longer...and even now, I am lucky to have enough health to enjoy parts of my day. And sometimes the whole day.
My best friend Eddie (RIP Buddy!) took this shot of me, just horsing around at a park with a hoop. I was in my late thirties, and could still offer up a good quarter of Basketball...and two quarters if I didn't have to play defense.
Some folks think we take our youth for granted. I don't think so. I think we don't know any better. It is just there for us.
I remember working full time, going out dancing, then eating at an all night greasy spoon, and getting home in time to shower and go back to work. Not night after night, but often enough to know how to plan for it. LOL
And if something happened, like an ankle sprain, or a pulled muscle...couple days rest, some hydration, and that was it. Right back to full health.
I rarely got sick after Grade School. For more than three decades, I can only remember the Flu once, and down in New Zealand I got a doozy of an infection in my lungs. And I tore my Hamstring showing off at a Dance contest.
And that was it.
And then I hit sixty. And sixty hit back. After the operations, I got healthy ...again. But then I hit seventy...and seventy hit back ...harder. And still my body prefers to be healthy. I don't have the big ones...no cancer, no diabetes, no heart disease. But I do have the two kinds of Arthritis...one reacts to repetitive movements, and the other is inflammatory. When they both decide to go off together and do their thing...well, all I can hope for is for less pain.
And even on those bad days, I have good moments. I have people around me who care, the kids and grandkids, and I am still mobile enough to dress myself, and do household stuff.
Sure the canes, the walker, and the wheelchair are all in the Closet. But today, don't need them. So today, is the day I stay in. Might need them again in the future, but that is so far away from today, I don't even think about it.
My Best friend Eddie said when he retired that his Motto became: "Mañana Bro." That almost everything can be put off until tomorrow when you really think about it. So he floated through his days.
My other friend, ever since he turned 80 (14 years ago!) says he doesn't count on tomorrow any more. Sure he makes plans to send out cards, or go to functions, but he doesn't worry about it. As he is fond of saying:
"Kevin, I don't even buy green bananas."
Yep. I am there now too.
Sports
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Enjoying Life
Posted 8 d ago
Responses: 2
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@SGT Kevin Hughes either you are tall and a high jumper or the basketball goal is short! :)
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SGT Kevin Hughes
Nope.I was five foot six. I did have a 39 inch vertical, but when. your reach is only six six, well, you will never dunk. But for a five foot guy to even get close to the rim...is pretty cool. That thing is way up there. LOL
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@SGT Kevin Hughes I refuse to grow up. Yeah back in 2008 a woman pulled directly in front of my 1200 Sportster. It was 9 months of surgeries (5) and PT and OT. Once I was back I needed an outlet, bought #2 sons bike. Eventually had both knees replaced. Started doing crazy rides, like 200-300 k rides. Bought a recumbent bike, started doing 12 hour racing.
Bought another bike, a mountain bike. Now I have 2 forms of torture and fun.
I could have sat around after my MC wreck but that’s not me. I had given up deer hunting when I was coaching #2 sons traveling soccer team.
I ended up with colorectal cancer. Had surgery and when I recovered I went back to work and continued riding bikes.
Then Covid came along. Got it twice, but in addition to cycling I resumed deer hunting. I have a saddle system for climbing trees and one pop up blind.
My philosophy is simple, I will continue to act like an adolescent until they play taps and fire the rifles.
And yeah, I do buy green bananas. I know somewhere down the line life will catch up to me, but I plan to race it till the end. Cheers
Bought another bike, a mountain bike. Now I have 2 forms of torture and fun.
I could have sat around after my MC wreck but that’s not me. I had given up deer hunting when I was coaching #2 sons traveling soccer team.
I ended up with colorectal cancer. Had surgery and when I recovered I went back to work and continued riding bikes.
Then Covid came along. Got it twice, but in addition to cycling I resumed deer hunting. I have a saddle system for climbing trees and one pop up blind.
My philosophy is simple, I will continue to act like an adolescent until they play taps and fire the rifles.
And yeah, I do buy green bananas. I know somewhere down the line life will catch up to me, but I plan to race it till the end. Cheers
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SGT Kevin Hughes
Wow, Major, those are some major hurdles (no pun intended) and your ATTITUDE is what drives the rest of us to believe we can carry on. I not only salute you, I admire you. I know folks like you (My Cousin Mary Jo being the best example of how you are leading your life that I know of personally) but I am not one of you. I am about two tiers down. And, like you, I don't think I ever grew up. I hope you are blessed with no more challenges on the health front, just a choice between an eight point and 12 point buck.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
Maj Robert Thornton - Well, okay, you can dress it, but get someone else to pack it out!
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