Savoring Sunday surprises

"Anyone can be a father but it takes a man to be a dad" is an admittedly rough paraphrase of a quote containing a profound truth.

And, just as my mother warned me that once I became a mother I would be a mother the rest of my days, so Danny discovered that once he became a dad, he'd be a dad the rest of his life.

We had an impromptu gathering of family Sunday afternoon, nothing fancy, just hamburgers on the grill, with a relatively early departure time needed for the out-of-towners.

Lisa and Aubrey had brought both of their vehicles so that they could lend us the use of their gas grill for meal preparation. When it came time for them to head west to Stratton, Lisa loaded baby Alycia and cousin Michelle in her car, and with hugs and kisses, was on the road. Moments later, Aubrey was found to be patting his pockets in dismay, remarking, "She has my keys." Danny, quickly assessing the situation, got in our old Buick and took off after Lisa, hoping to catch her and get the keys Aubrey needed so that he and cousin Andrew could also get on the road home.

Unbeknownst to Danny, they had made plans to meet at Wal-Mart to pick up milk and bread. He headed straight for Stratton, giving the Buick a good run down the highway. He finally met up with Lisa -- on his way back home.

Sunday had other surprises in store as well. I didn't know I had it in me, but I was glad to discover I can still easily provide piggy-back rides to my grandchildren. Uphill, no less.

Having just completed a six-month heart healthy study, during which I measured each step taken every day, I was encouraged to learn Monday that my effort was worth at least two steps for every step taken.

The ratio of steps and their relative worth were an invention of necessity. I know that my current position is significantly more sedentary than any I have ever held before, but reading the pedometer at the end of each day was still quite an unwelcome surprise. I came to call that little black box my own personal "demoralizer." So, for the sake of my self-image, I found it necessary to give certain steps more value than the ordinary one-foot-in-front-of-the-other effort.

For instance, I have a rather rapid pace. My children had to take three steps to my one just to keep up when they were small and they are all fast walkers today, thanks to my efforts in those early days. I decided that since my steps are rapid, my stride long, they counted for 1 1/2 ordinary steps.

Furthermore, certain parts of town are quite hilly and it seemed only fair to assign a two-to-one ratio to uphill steps as they naturally require more energy.

My caseworker on the study was unimpressed with my rating system although she was amused. (She also was amused by my food pyramid scheme, in which I propose, in all seriousness, that the black lines surrounding each of the food types represent chocolate, making it an indispensible part of any diet.)

I found the six-month study beneficial and enjoyable in many ways, not the least of which the monthly check-in with my caseworker, a woman of great good humor and wisdom. I am also more prone to park farther down the hill at Wal-Mart, making the most of my shopping steps. I now find any number of reasons to traverse the stairs and I use the smaller water bucket when dispensing rain water from my barrel to my outdoor plants. All in an effort to be heart healthy. I suppose it's not so much about living longer, as much as it is about maintaining a quality of living. I am a realist after all, knowing that even if I eat right and exercise faithfully, my sojourn here still will end. Nevertheless, I do understand that good health equals good life. Having the energy necessary to accomplish the large and the small tasks of each day is a blessing all too often taken for granted or, what's worse, all too often frittered away on donuts, couch time and other unhealthy pursuits.

Danny and I are agreed, after a weekend which saw us entertaining no less than 16 people at our house, that we are extremely grateful that we had our children while we were young. It is making our enjoyment of our grandchildren all that much easier. You see, of all the 16 people that meandered about the house, porch and lawn, I was the eldest, Danny second only by a few scant weeks. (That's what I get for marrying a youngster!)

As the last paper plate, laden with grilled hamburgers and potato salad was handed out, my eyes sought out my husband's, and I exclaimed, "Surely, our cup runneth over."

I hope to be healthy enough to appreciate this cup, pressed down full measure, all the rest of the days of this life. If that means more walking, then more walking I'll gladly do. And if I must make the black lines surrounding the food groups thinner year by year, I guess that's all right too.

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him." Psalm 127:3 (NIV)