Crow’s Feet Writing Prompt #44

Go You, Chicken Fat, Go!

Exercise, but make sure it is FUN.

Exercise! This is one of my favorite topics! I am wondering how many of us Crow’s Feet folk remember doing this video in PE class in elementary school?

I didn’t like it, but now that I see it is 6:31 minutes long, I can see why the PE coaches liked it. After doing that we played dodgeball, or softball with a rubber ball, or some other game. I remember being picked second to last when they divided us into teams. I was last if one girl was absent. She was frequently absent.

My dad had great dreams of me being the next tennis star like Chris Evert or Martina Navratilova since I am left-handed. I recall being lazy in the lessons. My younger brother became a good tennis player, and so did my son. I quit tennis, and my dad was disappointed.

However, I had enough lessons that now I love Pickleball! I’m not great at Pickleball either, but when I make a good shot I give credit to those early lessons, and imagine my daddy smiling from heaven!

My mother never wanted to participate in sports. She grumbled that she got enough exercise running around her kindergarten class. One day, in the 1970’, there was a 5K to support the schools. She put one foot in front of the other, and I went with her. I was a college student at the time.

My mom got addicted to running and collected trophies in her 50's.

I kept up with some type of exercise all my adult life, thanks to the good examples my parents set.

I remember my first year teaching doing Jane Fonda’s videos with my co-workers. Jane Fonda was in her 40’s. I was in my 20’s. I was exhausted after those videos. I went home and sprawled on the sofa.

Later, it was Denise Austin videos with my neighbor. I still follow her, as she is my age mate. She is in a bit better shape than I am, but I remind myself, that’s her JOB.

After I got divorced in my 50’s, I used exercise to burn rage. I went with a friend to a 5K and easily finished it. My friend said, “Let’s stay for the results.” I came in 2nd place and she came in 3rd place! Progress from being chosen last for a team in elementary school!

I entered more 5K’s, and got a few more trophies. I took a spinning class, and thought I might die. I didn’t die. Instead, I biked the first seventy miles of The Texas 4000 to support my son who rode all the way to Alaska with other college kids to raise money for cancer research.

One day, I ran into a former co-worker who was also recently divorced. We went out for breakfast after our runs several times.

That co-worker became my husband! I literally ran into my husband running. We have been married for eight years already. Those years have seen the passing of both sets of parents, the births of grandchildren, and a lot of change.

We are still exercising. We walk every morning. My husband completed two marathons. I completed one, but somehow all that running turned into walking after the marathon and more demanding caregiving roles in our lives.

That’s OK. Recently we became fascinated with Blue Zones, parts of the world with high numbers of people over 100 years old. We don’t live in a Blue Zone, but we believe exercise, social connections, and having a purpose are keys to finding joy in life, even if we don’t live to be 100.

Aerial silks class has been a fun and unexpected way to socialize and hang out or hang upside down. Dancing is great. Yoga and swimming help me get deep sleep. I do some minor weight lifting stuff because I read it is good for keeping bones strong as I age, but I do not even try to impress myself with the amount of weight lifted.

I am preparing for a 5K in December. Last year I was the last one to finish, but I did finish. And it’s fine if I walk. As I age, the attitude that works best for me is to focus on what CAN I do and what I enjoy doing.

Thanks for the prompt Robin James.