Two weeks ago when I wrote my column, I was full of vim and vigor. It appeared that spring was here and the garden could be planted, and the golf course was drying out. Well, spring/summer hasn’t come yet and the golf course is barely open with cold, wind and rain interfering. The garden? Well…
I did get some of my seeds planted in pots that I placed in my raised veggie pod garden, then in a protected atmosphere. So much for theories, but some plants have peeked up slightly. ‘Tis going to be a late season. Two weeks later, the seeds have slightly emerged above the soil. I had hoped that they would soon be transplanted and that they can get full growth started, but the weather is so sporadic that I fear that they may have to be left in the pod for another month.
My health has not improved either.
I cannot do garden work requiring lifting and bending. My wife has purchased 24 bags of black soil to spread into our gardens, which are being prepared for crops of vegetables. I watch her work with great envy – I would love to do what she is doing. If I try to bend and lift, I have a great possibility to fall to the ground; not good.
I am trying to change to a high protein diet – lots of animal-based protein is good for me, as long as the animal is free range and grass fed. Finding such a protein seems difficult, thus the move to more plant-based proteins. These proteins I can grow in my garden. Avoidance of carbohydrate-heavy grains and processed foods is necessary. Instead, fruits and vegetables – preferably organic and without antibiotics – is necessary
The only really positive of the last two weeks has concerned golf.
The Seaforth golf pro has an indoor practice area with a computerized screen that shows you where you hit the golf ball, as well as distance. I haven’t hit a golf ball for two-plus years and I am determined to play this year. So, I booked a lesson. Up until two years ago, I had played golf virtually every year for 77 years (started at age 6). I figured that, with my health issues, the pro could get me back to playing in short time.
Robin, the golf pro in Seaforth, started the lesson acting as if I was a new beginner. She asked me to take a few swings as if I was chipping the ball to the green. I did that and hit a few balls a short distance. She then asked me to widen my stance a little and try to hit the ball cleanly just a short distance. My distance was about 30 yards.
This continued for more than half an hour, and I think I got the idea. I would practice what she taught and I would return in a few weeks. I felt good and intend to widen my stance and lengthen my swing over the next three weeks. The next day, I did a series of physical exercises, as well as hitting about 15 balls into a net in my basement.
The very next morning I woke up raring to go and practice. But I couldn’t move. My whole body, head to toe, was stiff as a board. Literally, I was unable to move. I couldn’t even swing my legs out of the bed. I did manage to get up by noon but only made it to the chair in front of the TV. Lesson learned!
Obviously, I had overdone my golf and exercise the previous day. That day and the next I didn’t swing the golf club. It is now two weeks later and I am finally hitting about 10 balls a day with a very short swing. My exercise is being kept to a minimum.
Even my technique had changed. Robin has changed my technique so that I am hitting a straight, but short, ball. All my life I had hit a fairly long, but with a slice. Now I am hitting short but straight. If I listen to her I might just be playing decent golf by the end of the season. I have to learn to have patience.
The lesson of slow and easy learned in golf applies to my health as well. Following Robin’s direction, slow and easy should be applied to my disease corrections as well. Lots to learn from this young golf pro.
Will I be able and willing to learn? Stay tuned.
***
Bob Murray is retired from the graphic communication (printing) industry and has been living in Seaforth since 2015. Murray was diagnosed with Dementia in 2013 and works hard to stop the progress of the disease. Follow him on his blog entitled Voyage with Dementia – https://myvoyage553264702.wordpress.com.
