Summer observations

A couple of weeks ago, Scott and I were traveling by car and he made an interesting observation, that I'll paraphrase as such, "This person is one of the top 10 reasons why sometimes it would be better to be blind."

It's quite a mouthful and generally we don't think that we would ever want to be blind, crippled, deaf or have any other particular ailment or malfunction, so when he said it, I took notice.

And I guess it comes down to that same issue....is it better to look stylish or be cool in the summer heat.

Now, I'm probably as guilty as anybody as summertime often finds me in a pair of shorts even though my legs are far from being outstanding specimens of manly physique.

However, they could be worse. One person golfing in a tournament in July gained the nickname "Keg on Legs" for his portly physique as he pushed around his golf clubs in brutal heat and humidity while wearing a dashing pair of green shorts and bright yellow shirt.

But enough about outward beauty, lest someone thinks that I'm shallow. Let me go now in a different direction, which, of course, leads me back to Scott's list of 10 things. I got to wondering what other lists could I compile during the summer.

Here are a few:

• 10 worst persons to be caught in a conversation with at family picnic, renunion, etc.
• 10 dishes that you wish were never brought to another potluck.
• 10 drivers that you hope get their drivers licenses taken away for being idiots on the highways.
• 10 boaters that should hit an underwater tree stump because they are scaring the fish away while you are angling for walleyes on the Missouri.

I suppose I better quit now before one of my two faithful readers comes out with their own top 10 list and it's "10 bloggers who I'm getting very tired of hearing whine."

Don't take the little things for granted....

Today, I gave Ken Miller a ride to church from his home at the MedCenter One Care Center. Ken will turn 90 in a couple more weeks. He used to live alone and drive himself to church, but with failing health, he had to relocate to a nursing home and gave up his pickup. Since learning that he wanted to attend church, I have brought him the first Sunday in May, June, July and now August.

Ken generally gets around either by wheelchair or with a walker. I'm not a doctor, but I would say the arthritis in his legs makes it very difficult for him to walk. So far when he goes to church, he chooses the walker over the wheelchair.

On the way home after church, he told me that while he has appreciated me bringing him to church, this is the last time that he will accept a ride because it's just too hard for him to get around.

I let the words sink in and then I told him that I would come back in about a month and see if he changed his mind. He laughed and said, "That's probably a good idea...maybe I'll be able to get around a little better in a month."

His comments made me think of some specific words that I heard my mom say within the two or three-month time frame before her death.

She said, "I never thought about getting old. I guess I thought I would stay young forever."

On the surface, those words simply sound foolish. After all, we all celebrate a birthday every year so we know we are getting older...or do we?

A couple of weeks ago, the doctor who gave me my physical also gave me some words of advice. He said, "Steve, your body is nearly 50 but your mind thinks you are 18. So before you do physically strenuous work, such as lifting heavy boxes, be sure to stretch your muscles, or you are likely to tear something."

Fifty - why I don't feel 50 - I play tennis with my teenage sons. I walk four miles a day with my wife. However, the doctor is right, my body is getting older but my brain says that I'm 18. I feel young. I don't have aches or pains...generally.

I think that's the way my mom felt most of her life. She felt young - like she could do everything she could when she was young. But then something happens. Maybe it is arthritis for Ken, or congestive heart failure for mom...but one day we can't do the things we once did and our brain finally catches up and tells us so.

We are getting old, whether we want to admit it or not, so for today and the next 30 or 40 years, let's be young and do the things we want to do. Grow a garden, ride a bike, go for that walk at sunset hand-in-hand with the one we love. Go fishing, explore an old building...and go to church. Because someday, we just might not be able to.

Today, we're young...let's enjoy it.