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Be careful out there.
Oct. 1st, 2009 06:57 pmThis Sunday would have been Rich's 56th birthday. He might be here to enjoy some no-sugar-added angel food cake if he had taken a bit better care of himself.
"You're missing good stuff!" has been something of a mantra these past two years, usually silent, occasionally voiced loudly in the general direction of the ceiling. I found myself thinking about him as I was catching my breath on a granite ridge in Yosemite. He'd have done Yosemite by car or by tour bus, but a hike? Even one of the easy ones? Not his thing. He often spoke jokingly of The Way Of The Potato in describing his SCA fighting style, but it was his lifestyle too, and it was not good for him.
Or for me. I freely admit that I have indulged in comfort-eating as a response to his death. I try not to, but it still happens sometimes. The walking helps. And while I discovered in no uncertain terms the difference between a walk and a hike last weekend, the regular walking regimen was what got me through it. I was Even my "bad" knee didn't bother me once over eight and a half miles of demanding trail, that's how strong half an hour out of my day five days a week has made me. It's not even a half hour - it's two fifteen minute bites out of the day. When you work for a company with a lot of union employees, you take your breaks. I take mine on a sidewalk in San Leandro.
Today brings the news of an SCA death from H1N1 flu. I did not know the lady, but she was clearly well beloved and leaves a gaping hole behind to those who did. A vaccine is on its way in the next couple of weeks, though the CDC website has not announced a final release date. A regular flu shot (which will not protect you from H1N1, but will protect you from other strains) is as easy as walking into a Walgreens. There's even a program to offer shots to folks without health insurance. You may also be able to get your swine flu shot there in a few weeks as well.
Geez, I sound like one of those "Thrive!" commercials. But I'm seriously thinking about celebrating Rich's birthday with a hike. Muir Woods, maybe.
"You're missing good stuff!" has been something of a mantra these past two years, usually silent, occasionally voiced loudly in the general direction of the ceiling. I found myself thinking about him as I was catching my breath on a granite ridge in Yosemite. He'd have done Yosemite by car or by tour bus, but a hike? Even one of the easy ones? Not his thing. He often spoke jokingly of The Way Of The Potato in describing his SCA fighting style, but it was his lifestyle too, and it was not good for him.
Or for me. I freely admit that I have indulged in comfort-eating as a response to his death. I try not to, but it still happens sometimes. The walking helps. And while I discovered in no uncertain terms the difference between a walk and a hike last weekend, the regular walking regimen was what got me through it. I was Even my "bad" knee didn't bother me once over eight and a half miles of demanding trail, that's how strong half an hour out of my day five days a week has made me. It's not even a half hour - it's two fifteen minute bites out of the day. When you work for a company with a lot of union employees, you take your breaks. I take mine on a sidewalk in San Leandro.
Today brings the news of an SCA death from H1N1 flu. I did not know the lady, but she was clearly well beloved and leaves a gaping hole behind to those who did. A vaccine is on its way in the next couple of weeks, though the CDC website has not announced a final release date. A regular flu shot (which will not protect you from H1N1, but will protect you from other strains) is as easy as walking into a Walgreens. There's even a program to offer shots to folks without health insurance. You may also be able to get your swine flu shot there in a few weeks as well.
Geez, I sound like one of those "Thrive!" commercials. But I'm seriously thinking about celebrating Rich's birthday with a hike. Muir Woods, maybe.
