Just Play the Hand You Are Dealt
Friday I went for my semi-annual physical. My numbers were pretty good. But, I described the last two months of 2009 to my physician and what I experienced from them. So … he took me to the woodshed …
Let me back up a bit for you. My father had his first heart attack at the age of 46. Then in 1984, he had a triple bypass – and the doctors told Mom that his prognosis was probably about five years. So, he’s already beat them by about twenty-one years and he is cranking along as we speak, mostly because he has followed a strict physical regimen of exercise and diet. It’s always been more struggle than he would have wished since that heart attack, though. And, he passed a whole lot of those genes along to me!
Like him, I am determined to hang around as long as possible. I have a lot that I want to share with my family and friends, a lot that I want to experience and learn – and I’ve really got some questions about how this world will turn out! Add to that the fact that I didn’t have Carly until I was 40 and would like to watch her and her kids go as far as possible. Besides, if she feels anything about me like I do my folks, I want to be here for her as long as I can. I want to be healthy enough to travel to where she is, too, as far as that goes.
So, I am shooting for my nineties with an option to extend the warranty. That’s why I took all the stern advice my physician gave me on Friday to heart! He said that with my family inheritance (genes), he already was treating me in the same way that he treats people who have had a heart attack and he wants me to do the same. So, he told me to control those factors that I can control and control them strictly. To underline the importance of rest, exercise and diet, he told me that if I find a time constraint where I can’t eat and exercise both during the day – skip eating! And, if someone requires me to work late hours to make money or keep people in a warehouse in business – go poor and let others find a way to keep going temporarily by other means. And, last, he told me to keep my emotions under control. To stay calm.
These are all things I can and will do. And, I add another healthy hand to this, dealt to me by Maynardo the Magnificent:
I’ve got to see how these characters grow up.
As Ramana would say, “Thathaasthu.” Or, as we would say in America – Amen to that Brother!
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Maybe if you get into better shape, you may have a chance of replacing the “Joker.” MAYBE! Notice how the women love to be around the Joker. The one on the far right, even exposed the “kiss.”
I’m never growing up so you better stick around a lonnnng time!
Conrad, you and I got the same genes, mine came from my mother. When asked by medics if there is a history of heart disease in my family, I laugh and ask “How long have you got”? I know, and now accept that one day my heart will go into spasm and not right itself. So What! I won’t feel the cold or know about it and whether I lie on the spot for an hour, a week or a month is of no matter. I lived my life, nursed my husband and saw Elly grow into an independent young lady with a great husband and his close family around her who really care for and love her.
Whatever is left of my allotted time is for fun and I intend making the most of it. Creaking gates last longest!
Grannymar´s last blog ..Sleep
Whatever is left of my allotted time is for fun and I intend making the most of it. Creaking gates last longest!
Grannymar does that apply to creaking knees? If so I’m with ya 100%, Of copurse maybe my knees wouldn’t creek so much if there were fewer Xs in front of the L on my frame.
Conrad – I’ve found a good single malt helps to calm the nerves after a long day – even when they are all long as they have been lately LOL. But you called it – play the hand you are dealt and play it well. Heck – as they say – if I’d known I was gonna live this long I’d have taken better care of myself. But it’s never too late to start.
Shackman, it sure does! Remember it is never too late to have a second childhood…. and this time we make the rules!
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Everything in moderation Conrad! If you keep your emotions under control and stay calm all the time, you might not live longer it just may seem that way……
Everything in moderation is Tom’s motto. (I go to extremes.)
Conrad, you’re playing your hand expertly. You’re so trim & mostly everyone else is fat. Maynard, our Joker, does it best by running 3 miles a day.
I’m a poor card player. If I keep losing, I quit playing.
As for my body, I’ve not been dealt good cards. Two shoulder & one hip replacement in a year. Then 3 weeks ago a CRACK of a fall on edge of step which broke my neck & nose & slashed my face. I need to learn I can’t go tripping around like I was young.
Unlike game cards, I’m fierce about playing my body cards right.
BKB, Have you considered selling your body? The hardware that is in it may be worth something.
Maynard – Nah! BHB is a national treasure so she will leave her body to the Nation!
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Conrad, my physician is also unfortunately a close friend. I have to take my father, who is 92, to him sometimes, and he inevitably tells my father that he is healthier than I am. Not that I want to live to be 92 and keep going as strong as the old man intends to, but, have you considered whether, your physician may just be pulling your legs?
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Hummmmmm “selling my body”. Right away I thought of a different kind of “selling my body”. But then I have a dirty mind.
Yeah, nothing self-serving in your creation of that picture! LOL
I’m with you, GM. Could get us any time. But, creak on we shall!
Shoot, your knees used to work on the BBall court, I remember that! Speaking of which, have you heard anything from Clukey? I know about Rolande, sadly…
And I totally agree on the single malt. My favorite libation, too.
bhb, thanks for the support.
Have any or all of you noticed how immoderate the statement moderation in ALL things is? … or everything … that always tickled me. Not moderation in most things or moderation in many things or …
Maynard, bhb sell body parts? What are you, a body-hardware pimp???
GM, they’ll call it Mount bikehikebabe … wait … that doesn’t sound right.
Ramana old man – hate to say it, but the blood pressure monitor is mine.
Careful, bhb, Mayo will lead you down a path…
Never mind moderation in all things. My mother used to say “A little of what you fancy does you good!” ……….
Now I wonder where he is hiding?
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Last I heard was over a year ago – Jerry was going to France for a visit and returning to another knee replacement operation. He’s still in Hayward as far as I know in a condo off Tennyson. They visited us in 2003 while on an extended trip in their motor home – we had a great time with them but Jerry has been in a lot of pain since a botched knee replacement years ago. Rolande’s situation was a stunner – he told me about that the day I called to tell them about Lynn’s HD.
Who’s hiding?
GM, I like your phrase mo’ betta’.
Shackman, I have so many good memories with both of you, I wish you good things and ache with the tragedies.