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I was reading a column recently by a fellow journalist who asked
“at what age do most people quit jumping?” I know she wasn’t talking
about jumping to conclusions, or jumping on the bandwagon. The crux of
the column was staying in as good of shape as possible when reaching
middle age and beyond. So I knew she was talking about bending ones
knees, pushing skyward, and producing daylight between ones feet and
terra firma.
Her question got the wheels turning in my head. I’m middle aged. I’ll
be turning, gulp, 54 years young in a few weeks. Can I still jump, and
how high? I kind of answered my own question not too long ago when I
decided to grab a camera and head to Beaver Creek Valley State Park.
After about a week of foggy, cloudy weather, the sun popped out, and
the potential was there to capture some good winter nature shots.
The snow off the beaten path was nearly knee deep in the woods. I
wanted to get down along Beaver Creek, so I had to bushwhack through
the deeper snow to a spot where the sun was still shining on the creek.
A smaller tributary stood in my way. The water running in this small
stream was only about four feet wide, and from bank to bank, not more
than eight feet.
“No problem,” I thought to myself. I was a long jumper in high school
and college, and routinely broke the 21-foot barrier. Like I said, the
snow was deep, so I really couldn’t get a run at it. This was basically
a standing broad jump. I was wearing insulated winter boots, insulated
cover-alls, a parka, and had my camera and camera bag slung around my
neck. You know where this is going, right?
I took a mighty leap (ala Warrior track star Eddie Hodges)........and
didn’t make it. I jumped with my left leg and attempted to land with my
right. Unfortunately, my right foot hit the edge of the bank, the snow
and forest floor gave way, and I landed face first in three feet of
snow.
My first thoughts were 1- did I damage the camera when it landed in the
snow, 2- would I ever find my sunglasses buried in three feet of snow,
and 3- did anyone see me performing my best imitation of a real klutz?
I quickly picked myself up and immediately checked the camera. I was in
luck. When I went airborne, the camera swung around my neck and landed
on my back when I returned to earth. Then, being the proud person I am,
I looked around to make sure no one witnessed my not-too-athletic move.
Once I was certain no one was standing behind a tree laughing at me, I
started looking for my sunglasses.
It was a no brainer as to the potential location of my missing
sunglasses. When I landed, I made a perfect half snow angel. I just
started digging at the head of the angel, and sure enough, I found my
sunglasses.
I got the photos and had an enjoyable time tromping through the
snow-shrouded landscape. But my inability to traverse that creek in a
single leap bothered me.
I’m not a couch potato. I work out five days a week, lifting weights
and doing calisthenics each morning for 45 minutes. I ride a stationary
bike during the winter months on a regular basis, ride bike and swim
with my daughter in the summer, and refuse to ride a cart when I golf
close to 100 rounds per season. But I couldn’t get across that creek!!!
Could it be that even though I’m doing all this physical activity, I’m
carrying around an extra 10 to 15 pounds? I’ve gotta admit, I did move
my belt one notch out for comfort this winter. And I find myself
selecting baggy pull-over sweaters out of the closet when preparing for
work.
While I don’t think I will join Weight Watchers or that LA one where
they have all these skinny folks claiming they lost 100 pounds, I
decided I’m not ready to quit jumping yet. I’m really not that old! So
I guess I better shed a few pounds.
I know I could use the insulated boots, heavy cover-alls and parka as
an excuse. But I’m not gonna do that. I’m going to cut some pounds,
return to that same spot in February, attired exactly as I was in
December, and clear that creek!!!
Stay tuned.........
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