I Was Going to, But I Didn't

Last week I wrote in the comments of my Friday blog post that today (Tuesday) I would post more about my views regarding President Barack Obama becoming a Nobel Peace Prize Laurette. I've made several attempts to write such a post, but trashed (deleted) each.

The deletions were not because I have lost the pride I feel as an American in the awarding of the Nobel to my President. I remain very proud! Rather, I deleted what I wrote because, as I read each draft, I found that what I was saying was not only ethnocentric, but also pejorative towards those who had a different opinion of the Nobel award.

I believe that each of us has a right to our own opinions. More than that, in democratic societies we each have the obligation to have opinions and to share them with others. Therefore, I accept and celebrate whatever your opinion is of President Barack Obama becoming a Novel Peace Prize Laurette


That said, let me move on to something more personal that I am celebrating'

Yesterday afternoon I posted on FaceBook these words:

My physical therapist just left. Today I achieved my goal of walking down the street and around the corner to the coffee house and back!

The two series of physical physical therapy that I have undergone in the past few months have not only renewed my ability to walk a couple of blocks, but have also reopened a part of life that has been closed much too long. I am very thankful to the physical therapists, Jo and Robert!

Robert, my last physical therapist

Jo, my first physical therapist

I began weightlifting, which became body building, with a set of weights that I received for Christmas when I was 13-years-old. By the time I was 15-years-old I was developing into a, uh, hunk. (I have tried to locate a photo of myself from that period, but could find none. I believe that they are in boxes of photos that my ex-wife borrowed about 11 or so years ago).

I continued exercise discipline until midway through my university years when other pursuits (including pursuing) took priority. Through the years there have been periods in my life when exercise was important; however, there were others when I didn't even think about it.

As most of you know, about six or so years ago I fell apart-- physically, spiritually, socially, mentally, financially, and emotionally. I am not going into the details (if you scan through the 1,330 posts in this blog, you will be able to piece together most of the story).

I have been healing slowly over the past six years. These sessions of physical therapy have been primary in that process. I am doing things today that I could not do just a few months ago. Yesterday's walk was not only the achievement of a goal, but a renewal! This morning I again walked up the street to Frankfort Avenue and its little shops. Tomorrow I plan to do the same.

I may never again be the hunk I was 48 years ago, but think I am becoming a functioning senior citizen!

My Schwinn Airdyne has also become a part of my exercise routine.