Younger Next Year
We celebrated my birthday on the boat this year. It was a great day. The day started with a game of tennis in the morning, followed by a lunch outside at Fresco followed by a trip to the gelato store and a visit with Lainey at her dorm. Of course it was great to get all the birthday wishes by phone and on Facebook.
I had the Corvina with fried spinach for lunch and several flavors of gelato for dessert. Lainey gave me a red velvet cupcake that I saved for a late night snack.
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| Corvina with fried spinach and a tomato cucumber salad |
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| Turkey Club with Lobster Bisque |
Have you ever heard of a “To Me From Me”? Well I found out about this delightful gift from Terri Long. She started the tradition many years ago–I decided a few years ago that I like her tradition so much I had to join in on her idea. A “To Me From Me” is you guessed it –a present to yourself from yourself. It is a really great idea so you should join in on this. Steve’s friend and sometimes business partner practices this tradition with boats–I won’t print his name here–he has recently joined Boater’s Anonymous so I must respect his privacy.
I gave myself several gifts this year, but I have to lay the ground work for these gifts first.
My dear tennis partner and I declared 2012/2013 the years of health. We made doctor’s appointments for various and sundry ailments and upkeep and we kept those appointments. Well I kept them–my partner still has one she must re-schedule. Hint Hint!!! This year my tennis partner introduced me to a book entitled Younger Next Year for Women. I purchased it (First Gift to myself), read it and have become inspired by this book. So for my birthday this year, I have decided to be younger next year.
The book reminds me of the poem by Dylan Walsh
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
– See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15377#sthash.R333qMF7.dpuf
Ok so that is a little grim or dramatic–however the message is the same. Keep working out to stay healthy as we age. Younger Next Year is filled with many stories of over fifty adults who stay young by exercise. Women especially should add weights to their workouts to keep muscles and tendons in good working order to prevent broken bones, which I certainly want to avoid.
I also bought myself a Polar FT 7 (Second gift to myself) heart rate monitor. I have been monitoring my workouts like the book suggests–if we keep a journal we are more likely to make progress. It has been interesting to see which workouts raise my heart rate the most and which burn the most calories. I was hesitant to use a heart rate monitor but at the advice of Katy and my tennis partner–I am pleased!
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
– See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15377#sthash.R333qMF7.dpuf