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Friday, April 30, 2010

ANATOMY OF AN OLD GUY

April 30, 2010


This is not a veiled attempt for sympathy. Forgive me if it sounds that way. I’m writing this for the benefit of the all the young soles in this world. It’s probably too late for most of my contemporaries, however if this spurs some of you to achieve a better level of being, then it’s worth the effort.

When I was in my teens, twenties and thirties I was fairly indestructible. I ate what I wanted, drank what I wanted and experienced life on a level that was way too cavalier. I joined the Oklahoma National Guard when I was in high school, did a tour in the Air Force and was in Viet Nam before I was 23. I guess I felt entitled to live my life to the fullest.

A very strange thing happened to me at 21. I was traveling from Omaha to Denver for a technical photo school. At around sunrise west of Lincoln, Nebraska a little white sports car driven by a blonde passed my ‘57 Chevy. We traveled together, passing each other all the way to Denver having never acknowledging each other. I thought I was too cool to say something, but I actually was way too shy.

Once in Denver I accidently got into a “right turn only” lane so I pulled into a gas station for fuel. Feeling sad that I hadn’t met that blonde in the sports car, While pumping my gas, I heard someone yelling on the side of the freeway. Low and behold, it was the blonde. I guess you could call it love at first sight, six weeks later we were married. We’re in our 47th year together and love each other more now than ever.

We have 3 outragously beautiful daughters and 6 amazing grandbabies.

You see sometimes really good things happen to you when you do good things. Whoa, now that’s karma, but that doesn’t give you a green flag not to take care of yourself. You’re gonna have enough accidental crap happen that you don’t need to do bad things to yourself on purpose.

At 31 I came down with rheumatic fever and so I’m told it has recently caused arthritis in the right side of my body, which would be fairly okay except that in 2007 I fell and tore my left rotator cuff and after 2 failed surgeries I now have no left shoulder rotator cuff, they say it is a tissue degradation thing.

About 20 years ago I acquired hypothyroidism and I’m told there are a myriad of bad effects from that disease.

2 months ago during a routine eye exam I was diagnosed with Advanced Age Related Macular Degeneration (wet version) I inherited it and it was complicated by 39 years of smoking. As it turns out, diet is the only treatment for this condition. I am feverishly working at correcting my diet by eating mostly veggies, fruits, nuts and grains. And yes, I quit smoking 13 years ago.

I still eat a small amount of red meat, Very small. I really miss eating a big juicy steak, but hell I’m more partial to actually having sight.

Who knows how good of shape I would be in had I been living and eating right all along. All of you young guys need to get your shit together while you can still lift it. Do what is right for you. You know what it is!

At least that’s how I see it. Ejay

2 comments:

  1. I have heard it once and read it twice. I think I better listen before I can't hear it again.

    ReplyDelete