Random Thoughts: The Weight of History

I had my annual physical a couple of weeks ago. Always fun.

In the past few years, I’ve refused to get on the scale. I politely explain to the nurse that I weighed myself in the morning before breakfast and putting on 3lbs of clothing.  Only one nurse has been a little snippy about it so far.

I like my doctor. My previous one started a concierge practice that’s available 24/7 which sounds great, but it costs more than my first car. I’ve always preferred women doctors, so I signed up for a new one just down the street – no more traffic and parking garages! I was reminded not to make assumptions about a person’s gender based on their first name when the doctor walked in and introduced himself.

I gathered from our conversation that like many ancient landmarks, I’m starting to crumble a bit at the edges. For example, the human-size foot measurer said I’m ½ inch shorter than last year. But I told Dr. P I hadn’t been standing up perfectly straight. And that when you think of all the life and history – ours and the world’s – we’ve carried, and still carry, it’s not so surprising that we might start being pushed down a little. Whole cities and civilizations have shrunk down beneath the ground under the weight of history. Why shouldn’t we?

His response was to tell me to start exercising.

(Dr. P also told me my blood pressure was a bit higher than last year, but how could it not be when I’m starting to embody the expression “keep your ear to the ground?”)

But thankfully Dr. P doesn’t tell me to reduce stress. Well, not since the first time, anyway…

I have to put in a calendar note from now on to make my annual exam after I’ve lugged, dug, hauled, pulled, stretched way too far, wheelbarrowed about half a ton of stuff, and exercised my lungs during spring yard clean-up.

And this is the year I keep my promise to Dr. P to exercise all year – not just during yard clean-up – and to avoid the cheese and candy aisles. But it’s only June now, so I have plenty of time to think about the best way of going about all that.

XO Brenda