March 4, 2013
One year for Christmas Grand Rapids DS Laurie Haller gave
a book to district clergy entitled, Eat
That Frog. The thesis is that if the first thing you do every morning is to
eat a frog, the rest of the day is a piece of cake. The metaphor, for me, comes
in the form of morning exercise.
I would not choose to eat that frog if I could do
anything else, but thanks to our daughter Angie, whose employment with the YMCA
got me a deal for a Y membership, I started in January to drive the 6 miles to
the Belmont Y, a.k.a. The Wolverine World Wide YMCA (give credit where credit’s
due, I have been taught). Remind me to thank Angie for providing me with the
frog.
The workout takes about 1 ½ to 2 hours out of the day,
and I must say I feel better for it. And indeed, it’s true: the cake I eat the
rest of the day tastes oh so much sweeter.
Anyway, when two couples, good friends, gave Judy and me
a retirement gift of a week at each of their neighboring Orange Beach
condominiums in mid-winter, we of course rejoiced over the gift. I was even
more overjoyed when they reassured us there was a workout room, swimming pool
and tennis courts at the condo. I wouldn’t have to return home several pounds
heavier and in the same out-of-shape condition in which I entered retirement. How
sweet it is!
When I entered the exercise room and gawked at the
complete set of state-of-the-art machines, I was relieved – it’s just like the
Belmont Y. Beautiful! I can do my usual workout and avoid the guilt of
returning home with lots of ground to make up.
There’s only one minor difference between the two
locations: The Y in Belmont provides TV monitors where you can watch the news
or a movie while you exercise. The workout room in Orange Beach provides a view
of the Gulf of Mexico. So instead of listening to Matt, Savannah, Al and
Natalie, I’m drinking in a sunrise on the silver-blue waters of the Gulf, along
with a white-sand beach that is out of this world.
Sorry, Today Show team, there is no comparison.
I think when I return home I’ll print out one of those
photos that Judy took, take it to the Belmont Y and tape it over Matt and Co.
If they won’t let me do that, I’ll just close my eyes, and think of good times
with friends, the sea, and the frog that tastes oh so much better when
accompanied by one of God’s most amazing sites.
Thank you good friends; thank you Angie; thank you God:
Frogs aren’t so bad after all.
