My father liked to write letters, stories or words of wisdom. Most of the letters he wrote were to politicians, presidents especially, with recommendations. After he wrote these letters, he threw them away because this was his way of venting.
Feeling nostalgic recently, I looked through some of his papers and found a letter that he did not throw out. He was commenting about jogging. Now, understand that he wrote this 40 years ago when jogging was big. Everyone was jogging as this was the fountain of youth. Of course, we know that many of these joggers are now walking around like bionic men and women with artificial knees, artificial hips and anything else that needs replacing. (Let me make this comment, as I get older, I could use a full body replacement).
Was my father Carnac the Magnificent, an omniscient seer in the future? Or was he just a commentator on the human condition, ‘as he saw it?’
You see, my father was a walker, not a power walker, but just a walker. He walked every day to feel good – to smell the air in hopes of seeing other walkers who would stop and say hello.
He admired the joggers for their fortitude—but they always seemed to have a pained expression on their face, some out of breath, grasping for air.
He observed, wondering if anyone was having fun jogging. It certainly didn’t look enjoyable.
My father, a retired doctor, started his day with a walk. People who knew him would stop him and ask him questions about what was ailing them—maybe gout, indigestion, or a sore throat. He loved this, in fact he thrived on it, because this was his “street practice,” as he called it.
He felt he got the same hormonal ‘high’ that joggers experience. He lived to be 90 years old. He passed after his morning routine of walking, reading the newspaper, drinking a cup of tea and taking a shower.
I guess my point is this… running is good, jogging is good, power walking is good – but maybe perambulating (a walk for pleasure) is also good. We don’t have to exert ourselves for good health. A leisurely stroll to stretch our legs, smell the roses or greet passersby will do just fine.
I guess, like my Dad, I like to comment on the human condition.
Take my advice for what it is…It’s Just, AS I SEE IT!
