Health. Coronavirus Edition

When I first started staying home I had a far different outlook on my health.

Of course I was under the impression, as we all were, that this self quarantine thing wouldn't last that long. Boy, were we all wrong. Remember when it seemed like New York was in the news every day? That seems like a lifetime ago. Now Florida, where I live, and everywhere else has gotten scarier.

At first boredom set in and I found myself drinking, it seemed like, buckets of Merlot every single day. When I was younger it was beer and more beer. Now? I do love my red wine. I also have a pantry full of stuff I shouldn't eat. I have kids. I know, I know, you can put all the blame on them if you want to but truthfully you don't have to eat their stuff. I found myself knee deep in things like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, which I love, and chips and subs and pizza and Mexican food and too much more.

Bad, Mark, bad.

I'm more than happy to go to Publix with list in hand to get provisions. When I go to my local grocery, mask on of course, I see wine and beer in just about every cart. In this  goofy time booze seems to be doing very well.  Liquor stores are doing bang up bizness with things I don't drink a lot of: whiskey, vodka, rum, scotch; but there are people, bunches of them, that sure do.

And then one day I decided to make a change.

Exercise is always important as far as good health goes.  I can't run like I used to and to be honest I was never much of a jogger but I have this sweet dog, Lola, who I make sure I walk every day now. Two miles. I say to her, "I take you out you save my life."

Good trade.

Lola wags her tail and barks every time I pick up her leash. She's going for a walk.

When I'm out there I see all kinds of people, some in great shape, others, not so much, and they are incentive for me to keep on keeping on. I went back to watching what I eat. More veggies and fruit less you know what. And smaller portions.

Don't get me wrong I still have my beloved Merlot just not buckets. And once a week I splurge. Just so you know splurging now is not what it used to be. My waist is at a size I haven't seen in decades. Plural. I take pills every day that aren't multi-vitamins and I'm determined to make them go bye bye.

A friend said, "Don't take this the wrong way but having a stroke saved your life." I hadn't thought of it like that but he's right. It sure changed it.

I need to go take a shower. To wash the sweat, the stink off.

In the middle of this darkness here comes the sun.


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