On a mid-winter's night....

We're working our way toward the middle of February and I can tell you that I'm ready for spring. Back in November when I saw my heart doctor, I was told that lying on the couch and getting fatter wouldn't be appropriate behavior for me this winter. So I've tried to be more active and lose weight. Now, three months later, I can tell you that it was good advice. Most noon hours, you can find me walking at an indoor gym in north Bismarck. I've also been lifting weights, playing some tennis and racquetball along with bowling on Friday nights.

Most of these things put me in mind of when I was either single or didn't have children. This might shock you, but I actually engaged in some distance jogging before I was married. I was never a cross country or marathon runner, but I do remember jogging from my home in Glendive along Marsh road, which was adjacent to the badlands on the outskirts of town. I had a running partner and we would talk as we jogged.

I also used to play racquetball and tennis when I lived in Glendive. If you looked at my wedding pictures, you would see a young and trim 26-old groom. However, marriage and children slowed me down. I'm sure I'm using these as excuses, but you don't have the same amount of time once your married that you do when you are single. And I also started eating better. I have never been much of a cook...other than cookies, bacon and pancakes. Not exactly diet food.

So, now at 53, the children are raised and grandpa goes to bed at 7 p.m...and I once again have plenty of free time. I also have something else than I didn't have in my early 20s...money. So I can join a gym that gives me protection from the harsh winter elements and I can enjoy a game of indoor tennis while the wind swirls the snow around outside the heated tennis courts.

Tonight after work, I'm meeting up with our son Scott for an hour of tennis. From the gym, I'll have enough time to go home and get my bowling ball for three lines of bowling. This exercise will all be on top of the two miles that I walk over the noon hour with Belinda.

When the snow finally melts and spring arrives in Mandan, Belinda and I will be ready for walks in the morning before work. In the winter, we hardly have any sunlight in North Dakota and in the summer we hardly have any nighttime, so we can be walking at 6 a.m. and the sun will be shining in June, July and August.

A couple of other things I've been doing this winter include eating more salads and not eating any snacks in the evenings. The combination of exercise and better eating habits has allowed me to shed a few pounds and lower my blood sugar, which my heart doctor also told me to do.

So while I haven't found the "fountain of youth", in some ways, I feel as though I have. As long as my knees don't give out on me, I'm living it like it's the early 1980s...only I'm not celebrating my athletic achievements with any beer, wine or spirits. I'm also not eating salty popcorn or frozen, pop-in-the-oven, breaded chicken...which were staples for me when I was in my early 20s.

It's funny how life changes. Some things come around again, like exercising and toning your body, and some things don't. So here's to the many seasons in all of our lives....(as I hoist a caffeine-free, sugar-free can of Fanta orange soda)!