SUZANNE’S ISLAND

August 31, 2025September 1, 2025 / middlesisterkathleen / Leave a comment

Perhaps it was the company of her beloved sisters. Maybe it was the natural beauty of Mackinac Island. More likely, it was Suzanne’s favorite excursion on our Michigan trip last week because it is the closest she will come to ever realizing her fantasy of going to Gilligan’s Island.

I’m not making this up. She swears she would thrive in that environment. Perhaps she would, but we are so glad she is with us here, safe on our shores, accounted for every day by her husband, her work and our daily morning check-in ritual when each of us finishes Wordle.

We left after work on Monday, August 18th and headed east. As we’d hoped, we made it to Chillicothe, Missouri before we hung it up for the night. Chillicothe, as Gail wants us all to know from her research, is the home of sliced bread. Those fun facts make life a little more interesting, and I really appreciate that she gets excited about such things.

We checked in late and took off early, hummed along nicely along US Highway 36 East. Until we didn’t.

At 9:37 a.m., the flashing lights behind us sank our collective spirit. Gail pulled over, and Missouri State Highway Patrolman Dunn greeted Gail at her door. Apparently, Gail was going only 5 mph over the speed limit, but it appears she was hanging out in the passing lane a bit too long. So, after producing her information, he returned to his vehicle, while we joined hands and sent up a Hail Mary to Mom and Dad. After a long few minutes of waiting, Patrolman Dunn came back to Gail’s door.

“When you girls passed me, I could see you were having a lot of fun. I didn’t want to ruin your day by giving you a ticket, so I’ll just give you a warning.”

Clearly, as evidenced by Patrolman Dunn’s observations, we have road-trip fun down to a well-honed science. Apparently, our fun-loving aura travels through space as quickly as Gail was driving.

Thank you Patrolman Dunn.

And we were off again, until we weren’t. We stopped in Springfield, Illinois for lunch, and it became apparent that one of us needed a visit to Urgent Care. We won’t say which one or what for, but once again, antibiotics saved the day as the wonder drug they are. At least, we got to have lunch at one of Suzanne’s favorite places there.

Three hours later, we were off again. Other than the eight-lane traffic we slogged through around the southern tip of Lake Michigan, which is also the Chicago outskirts at rush hour with Suzanne expertly at the helm, we hummed along nicely, arriving around one a.m. We lost an hour to the time change near Chicago to Eastern Standard Time.

I am normally tucked in by 9:30 and in a deep sleep before 10:00 (according to my sleep tracker), so this was a bit of a stretch for me, as well as a recent personal record for staying up late. But I persevered, and slept like a log after a long day in the car.

Gail’s free-spirited and fun-loving daughter Abby lives in northern Michigan with her husband and two sons. It was so good to hang out with all of them.

My friend Shari and I visited her last year, but there’s never enough time with her. So, I was thrilled when Gail planned a trip there and asked Suzanne and me to go along. Suzanne had never been to Michigan, and was amazed by the natural beauty, as we all were.

We spent our first full day traveling to and around Mackinac Island. The ferry departs from Mackinaw City–both are pronounced Mackinaw–and after about 16 minutes on the waves, we arrived. Of course, we made the most of those 32 minutes:

Gail got into a bit of trouble from the skipper for her imitation of Rose from The Titanic movie, but it was worth the laughs, and no harm was done.

Mackinac Island is noted for its lack of automobiles. Except for a few emergency vehicles, transportation takes place on foot, on a bike or by horse. In 1898, a vehicle ban was enacted to protect the horses that were frightened by the noises and exhaust. The ban has been kept to allow the island to keep its unique charm and quiet atmosphere.

To honor Mom and Dad, who loved to visit Catholic churches, we stopped at St. Ann’s Church and lit a candle for them.

We strolled around the island, enjoying the unique sights, friendly people and quaint shops after a lunch at The Great Turtle, served by our fabulous waitress, Ashley. She filled us in on the ins and outs of the island, enhancing our experience with information only locals would know.

Native Americans noted the similarity of the island’s shape to a turtle, thus naming it “Mitchimakinak,” which means “big turtle.” French explorers kept this name, with the British shortening it to “Mackinac.” It’s perimeter is 8.2 miles, with the commercial and residential development concentrated on the southeastern tip.

On Wednesdays, we wear yellow shorts. Apparently, we forgot to tell Suzanne.

On our way home, we took the five-mile Mackinac bridge. It is the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere.

Sunset on Lake Michigan

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Our remaining two days were filled with other local attractions, including “Skybridge Michigan,” a 118-foot suspension walk bridge. After a ride up on the ski lift, we took the long stroll, then back across.

Shopping was a must as well. Gail was excited to go to her favorite spice store, and I’m sure they were happy to see her again.

Perhaps the simplest pleasure was the treasure hunt for Petoskey stones. Abby is a stone hunter extraordinaire, as are her boys and they turned us on to this hobby of theirs. These fossilized corals are concentrated near Petoskey, on the shores of Lake Michigan, just up the road from Abby’s small town. When you see the distinct hexagonal shape, you know you hit the jackpot. We found several small ones that, after I follow Abby’s polishing instructions, will become even more beautiful.

Souvenirs with this rock print abound, and I came home with a necklace and earrings with these stones, as well as a vase, journal and this challenging puzzle:

And speaking of puzzles, we completed two 300-piece puzzles Suzanne brought and one 500-piece puzzle of northwest Michigan from Abby. She is a puzzler, just like Suzanne and me. Another simple pleasure.

Multiple lakes dot the area, including Torch Lake, which, even though it is hard to tell in this picture, has a beautiful turquoise color. We didn’t wade long after the water moccasin snaked it’s way to shore near us. It’s head is entering this picture on the right.

Time flew as it usually does, especially on vacation. We set our sights on making the trip home in one day, hoping and praying for no hang-ups. There were none. The weather was perfect, as it was all the way there. We departed at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and arrived back in Salina around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. It seemed longer going home as it always does, but we made our own fun, including enjoying our road trip snacks, including:

*Chex Mix, a home-made gift from Suzanne’s co-worker (thanks Steve G!)

*mixed nuts

*celery, sliced peppers and cucumbers

*bagels and cream cheese

*prunes (no explanation needed while traveling)

*chocolates

*apples

*cookies

We had Gail’s homemade salsa with chips that we intended to eat on the way, but decided to enjoy it instead when we got there. Good thinking. And, more good thinking, says Suzanne, was the fact that Gail had an ice cream cone one morning while we were out.

On the way home, Suzanne turned around and saw me sleeping in the back seat. She said she had this flashback: (Only Suzanne would think of this…)

Gail spent the night at my house, even though she said she could probably make the 3.25 hour trip home, getting her there around 3 a.m. I’m sure she could have, but I’m glad she stayed.

Another trip in the books, and the memories grow more fond with time. There will be more to come, hopefully including another Colorado trip in a few months.

Petoskey means “where the light shines through the clouds.” Until we make more memories, these will shine bright through the clouds that have been hanging around here for about ten days, it seems.

Kansas and Michigan together are a perfect combination.

SHE LET HERSELF GO: PART TWO

April 21, 2024 / middlesisterkathleen / 5 Comments

When I finished She Let Herself Go (March 4th, 2024), the title stuck with me. So, I took that as another sign, and took it from there.

Last Sunday, I started a Facebook page by the same name: She Let Herself Go. If you haven’t visited it yet, please do. There are so many amazing women out there on amazing adventures, and I want to feature them and their travels, as well as mine. I aspire to inspire women–and men–of all ages, but especially women over 50.

I finished another trip around the sun this week. Not a milestone, but I believe every birthday, every year should be celebrated, no matter how old or how young. As long as you can walk and talk–and even if you can’t, as many of my patients don’t let that stop them, you can likely get out.

I excused myself from work that day, had a leisurely morning, and spent the afternoon with my husband who also excused himself from work in the afternoon. I chose our destination: Lindsborg, Kansas, just half an hour away from home. It’s a quaint small town, known as “Little Sweden.” The influence of its Swedish settlers is obvious, and the town citizens take great pride in its world-famous tourism.

They should. It’s a short getaway, one I like to take when I need to let myself go on a short budget of time. There are many others in this area; one need not go far to find points of interest and scenery in Kansas. Chances are, wherever you live, there are places, perhaps hidden gems, that you can let yourself go to when you need a quick refresher and a change of scenery.

There was a time in my not too distant past when obligations and limitations kept me from getting away as much as I do now. Family and work, time and money. The basic ones that keep most people from letting themselves go. Those obligations are still there to a lesser degree, and as I age, I continue to try to find more creative ways to make it all work. I used to be happy sitting in my home reading about other places; now I can’t sit still as long as I once did.

I realized I had a lot of people to visit in the US, so I took a map and plotted out those people in those places I wanted to visit. My trip last month was the first of many I hope to complete, hopefully more checkered flags soon.

Gail, Suzanne and I still like to go on getaways together far and near, but we also go with others. Suzanne is planning a beach trip this summer with a friend, and while Gail doesn’t currently have any trips on her agenda, she can usually find adventure in a typical day’s work–or romping about town with the other Mrs. Ropers featured in that last post.

I let myself go to Topeka, our state capitol, several weeks ago with two dear friends. We toured the state capitol building–a first for me–and took in the Dwight Yoakam concert. He is an incredible musician.

I let myself go all the way to the top of the capitol dome, even outside on the walkway.

But enough about me. Here’s what the amazing women on my new page are doing:

My friend Shari is hiking the Camino de Santiago trail (northern) in Spain right now with five other women, hiking 100 miles in seven days, staying in hostels along the way and packing only a backpack for the entire trip.

My friend “Captain Amy” just returned from 41 days at sea as captain/eco-tour guide. She went from Argentina to Antarctica and many places in between, educating and inspiring her guests to appreciate and preserve the natural beauty of our world. Like Gail, she makes an adventure out of her work.

The Day after my initial She Let Herself Go post, I picked up my friend Marilyn and we went to the Grand Canyon. It never fails to inspire.

In case those epic trips are out of your league at this point in your life, remember there is beauty and fun to take in close to home as well.

The panoramic beauty of central Kansas from atop Coronado Heights near Lindsborg

Just let yourself go.

THE GAIL EXPERIENCE

June 12, 2022June 12, 2022 / middlesisterkathleen / 2 Comments

The reviews are in: “Gail brings high energy and fun to all aspects of her life! I had such a fun time. Her garden is delightful, Lola is one of a kind, we got to meet her friends on their front porch, and had a great lunch at the bar/grill she manages. Camp Gail was highly entertaining. I give “The Gail Experience” 5 stars! –Shari

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It’s a real thing, The Gail Experience. I have lived it many times; I am one of the lucky ones. In the next breath just after I say that, I will also say this: there is no such thing as The Suzanne Experience. And that’s how they both want it. As the middle sister, I guess I am in the middle there, too. I guess, perhaps, this blog is part of The Kathleen Experience, if there is such a thing.

But I am not here to talk about that. This is about Gail, her aura and the gifts of her presence. And there are so many.

Shari, my friend since kindergarten, loves to hike like I do. We have long planned to take a trip to western Kansas to experience the natural beauty of several land formations there, as well as a new state park with hiking trails. We have tried two other times: first, my son was sick with Covid in my home, so we decided it best not to share that kind potential illness. Second, we were both available and healthy, but Gail was not going to be home at the time we planned to go, and this involved an overnight stay at her home. I told Shari, “We could go, but you wouldn’t have The Gail Experience. I will let you decide.” She decided to wait until Gail was home

Wise decision.

Last week, it finally happened. The stars and planets aligned, we were both able to get out of work responsibilities, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect, and Gail was home. So, Shari arrived from the Kansas City area at my home Tuesday evening, and we headed west Wednesday morning. The sightseeing and hiking was every bit as beautiful and enjoyable as we had hoped, but that’s not the point. Our home state boasts so many natural wonders that deserve more attention than most people give them, and more than I can put into this blog. It may very well be covered in a future post, because both Gail and our beautiful state deserve their own headlining coverage.

The farthest point of our trip took us to the northwest corner of Kansas, and even into the southwest corner of Nebraska. We turned around, and were at Gail’s house in the beautiful burg of Atwood an hour later. Gail had supper ready, and we were hungry hikers. As usual, it was delicious.

Shari’s reaction to Gail’s home was the same as mine when I first set foot in it over 20 years ago: it’s Gail. Her spirit and style are carried through in her decor, especially in Camp Gail, which I have featured in each of the five pictures at the beginning of the blog. We “camped” after our cruising, more on that later.

It was about 7:30 pm at this point, and it was a beautiful almost-summer evening, the kind that calls for cruising. So, as well The Gail Experience, Shari also got to have The Lola Experience.

Gail’s 1974 Nova, lovingly named after its last owner, always turns heads on the streets of Atwood.

We were privileged to meet a group of her friends, who were hanging out on the porch of the group’s senior member, 87-year-old Buzzy. Perhaps you could say, with the little squeeze that Buzzy added in this flanked pose, that Shari and I also had The Buzzy Experience. Or, perhaps more accurately, we got Buzzed.

We cruised some more, then headed to Gail’s house. It was a girl’s night, as her husband was out of town for a few days. Her daughter, Lydia, was there to enhance The Gail Experience. As is custom at Gail’s house, guests gravitate toward Camp Gail, which is where we spent the rest of the evening talking and reminiscing, but mostly laughing.

Perhaps it was the beautiful night, or the slight deliriousness from a day in the sun, or maybe since we were one or two beers in, everything was funny.

I’m pretty sure, though, it was mostly the company.

Among other visual treats in Camp Gail, Shari noticed a beautiful scarf Gail had as a decoration. She picked it up, and proceeded to find all the ways it could be used. With Gail’s encouragement, suggestions and goading, we laughed until our stomachs hurt.

Starting with the functional look to keep one’s hair tame in the Kansas winds–just like our mothers used to wear, Shari began the modeling:

Our mothers also wore scarves fashionably around their necks:

And to church.

Then, it started to get really silly.

She took the cue for this one from my Willie shirt, and it was followed by the do-rag:

And the blindfold…

And the bandit.

and the toothache/mumps wrap.

The turban was the finale; our stomachs couldn’t take any more laughing.

Shari and I had to hang it up and go to bed, but, as usual, Gail could have entertained us for hours more.

In the morning, we went for a brisk walk, followed by massages. We were relaxed and energized, and, of course, hungry.

Gail had some work in the office of her first full-time gig as an office manager for a chiropractor,

and then we enjoyed lunch at the home of her second full-time gig as the manager of Legends bar/grill. She wasn’t technically working, but she had already unloaded the food truck that delivered supplies earlier that morning.

As parties always are, it was then over. We fought the blasting south Kansas wind for the first 30 miles, and then I cussed it as I drove east for about the next 120 miles until it calmed. As usual, Gail loved the wind. Ugh.

But I still love her for that. It’s part of The Gail Experience. If there were a Suzanne Experience, it would include the love of wind as well. Definitely not part of Kathleen in any way. Our day of hiking/sightseeing in western Kansas couldn’t have been more calm and beautiful, with brilliant blue skies and a slight breeze. NO wind.

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I am not as pious as the picture of Shari praying in the scarf, but I say a prayer of thanksgiving every day for the gifts of my sisters, and for the “experience” of being their sister. They cry with me in the bad times, and laugh with me in the good times. And, we know the importance of having fun.

Special thanks to my dear friend Shari for making this trip with me. Her “Gail Experience” was a great one!

SIMPLE CELEBRATIONS

May 31, 2020May 31, 2020 / middlesisterkathleen / 4 Comments

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SIMPLE CELEBRATIONS

It’s party time. If a party can be defined by a group of people celebrating an event or occasion, then yes, it is indeed time once again to party.

And by party, I recommend staying within the recommended guidelines that we are all aware of.

I had a little party at my home this weekend. A dear friend since childhood was celebrating her birthday, and I had the privilege of helping her do just that. Shari was traveling through on her way to see her parents in our hometown, so she spent Friday afternoon and evening with us. We even continued the celebration yesterday morning. I will expand on that later.

Birthdays are obvious times to celebrate. Marking another successful trip around the sun should always be a festive occasion. It was for her, and the rest of us as well. Our neighbor was celebrating his birthday as well, so our group of eight serenaded him in his yard with a birthday carol at his front door.

Gail and her 20-year old daughter Lydia were here, too. Lydia had her every-four-month checkup with her endocrinologist in Salina, and she got continued good news regarding the battle she continues to wage–and win–against Type One diabetes. That’s cause for celebration.

Suzanne came out to spend the evening with us as well. If you recall, Suzanne’s encouragement to Lydia when she began her diabetes treatment was this: “Only the coolest girls get to see an endocrinologist.” Another occasion to celebrate is that Suzanne’s recent visit to her endocrinologist in Wichita brought good news as well: almost eight years after her thyroid cancer diagnosis, she remains healthy.

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Living in our strange new COVID world, finding reasons to celebrate any cause large or small is a way to keep looking at the sunny side. Despite all the bad news we are continually hammered with, there is still good news out there. Here’s an example: an elderly, extended family member of ours was dismissed from the hospital back to his home after his battle with COVID. That’s good news, even though the diagnosis was bad news we all naively thought would never strike our family. And, as more bonus good news, other family members who helped take care of him before they knew the diagnosis have tested negative.

And here’s further reason to celebrate with good news about my health: the tick that hitched a ride on my ankle yesterday morning was easily and completely removed. My husband, armed with the tweezers, plucked him out while Gail talked me down from the ledge the tick put me on.

It’s our choice. All day, every day. We can choose to celebrate the positive or magnify the negative. It’s always our choice.

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Mother Nature continues to offer us unlimited reasons to celebrate the beauty in every day. She has carpeted the earth in a lush green with the recent rains, and vibrant green leaves adorn the trees and bushes. Flowers are blooming, and summer is almost here.

Given this generous gift from her, my friend Shari and I decided to accept Mother Nature’s gift, and hike the trails at nearby Wilson Lake. Hiking is something we both enjoy, something we plan to do more of.

Suzanne went home Friday night, and Gail and Lydia stayed overnight with us. As a bonus, a friend of Gail’s since childhood came out for coffee Saturday morning. We all visited for a bit, then Shari and I took off for our hike.

It was a beautiful day, and the state park area around the lake was re-opened, with many other people enjoying the outdoor space as well.

The trails were lush in places,

Rocky and barren in others,

But always beautiful.

We were hungry hikers at the end of the trail, so we savored the made-from-scratch German lunch at a local restaurant aptly named Made From Scratch. I hadn’t sat down for a meal in a restaurant since March 15^th, so this was a celebration of sorts for me as well.

Celebrate. Whatever occasion, reason, victory or birthday, and within sanctioned limits in these COVID times, find a way to find the good, and share it in a small group now, and hopefully a larger one later. We all need each other, and we all need to celebrate. I think most of us have realized that in these last few isolated months.

10,000 STEPS

February 9, 2020February 9, 2020 / middlesisterkathleen / 6 Comments

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10,000 STEPS

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Lao Tzu

“Sometimes we make the process more complicated than we need to. We will never make a journey of a thousand miles by fretting about how long it will take or how hard it will be. We make the journey by taking each day step by step and then repeating it again and again until we reach our destination.” —Joseph B. Wirthlin

“Step with care and great tact, and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.” —Dr. Seuss

“Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity.” —Thich Nhat Hanh

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I remember watching Gail with great fascination when she got a Fitbit® several years ago. She was so excited about measuring her steps. She is always on the go, so it made sense that she would want to know just how many steps she took in a day. I also recall a dear woman, a wife of a dear home health patient, explaining her Fitbit®, too. She is a mover and shaker as well, so she, too, wanted to know how many steps she was taking every day.

I got a fitness tracker for Christmas. I never thought I would want one, but I did. I figured with my daily run, I was getting enough steps in. But something kept telling me to give it a shot. So, I did. I didn’t need the fanciest one, just one to measure my steps. I was curious to see how many I took in an average day.

The set-up process required someone who knew more about gizmos like this than I did (my 19-year old son), and a goal. A number of daily steps to aspire to that would be entered into the device. I thought 10,000 sounded like a good number, so I started there.

The first day I wore it, I exceeded the goal by a long shot. I completed 20,000-plus steps. However, that was not an ordinary day.

That day, like yesterday, I took a hike. Literally. That day, I hiked the nearby beautiful Konza Prairie Trail with my best hiking buddy.

It is listed as one of the 8 Geographic Wonders of Kansas (www.kansassampler.org), and if you haven’t been there, put it on your list.

Yesterday, I hiked it with my husband and two sons. We’d been talking about doing it forever, and yesterday was the day. My firstborn just completed his degree at nearby Kansas State University in December, and we always said we would do it while he was there.

But we didn’t, and it was time.

It was abundantly sunny but windy, with a high of 49 degrees. By Kansas standards in February, it was a nice day. So, we took advantage.

It is a Kansas masterpiece; truly a wonder of nature. It is breathtaking in all seasons, and I have featured it in other posts as well.

So, please, go take a hike.

After the trail, we checked out Pillsbury Crossing, another wonder of Kansas nature that was close to Manhattan. Our son had been there several times, it is a beautiful water fall with a reputation among the college students as a fun nature hangout.

It was a great day on our feet.

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Ten thousand steps sounds daunting, and if I didn’t take my daily run, I wouldn’t normally reach my goal. I am usually around 6,000 steps when I get back, so I’ve got a great head start early in the morning. Most days I reach my goal, some days I come close. I think there have been a few days when I didn’t even reach 9,000 steps. And there were two days when I was in bed sick, so those don’t count.

Two nights ago, I needed just 127 more steps to reach 10,000, and I was ready to go to bed. Not one to let a goal that close slip from my grasp, I went to the basement a few times; there was always something in the laundry room I could tend to. A few laps around the house, and I felt that gratifying double vibration on my wrist: I made it. Then, I went to bed.

The night before that, in the cold-but-calm February evening under an almost-full moon, I pushed myself out the door to walk the driveway a few times. The moon made it light enough to see, and made it worth the effort.

I am a mature, educated, reasonable and logical woman who doesn’t normally fall for cheesy rewards or flaky reinforcement. That little pulsation on my wrist, however, makes me go the extra few steps, makes me push myself a little harder.

Yet, I continue to circle the parking lot, looking for a closer space. Circling, even as I composed this blog in my mind as I often do throughout the week, I kept looking for a closer space. I fully realize this incongruity.

I’m the only one who knows or cares about these 10,000 steps. Clearly, I am like most other humans in this respect: we all like to be rewarded for our efforts, even if it is just a little buzz on my wrist. Yesterday, just as we embarked on the trail, I got that little buzz. And I hadn’t even started hiking yet. I knew my tally for yesterday would be stellar, and it was. It was second only to the other time I hiked the same trail.

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This morning, I woke after a good night’s sleep, ready to get back out there and get more steps. I commenced my run before the wind picked up, and, at 31 degrees, it was beautiful. It felt so good, in fact, that I went the extra mile—literally. My legs felt strong and lithe after the hike yesterday, so I kept going. I felt like Forrest Gump. When I got home, I had over 7,500 steps, and it was just after 9:00 a.m.

I sent up a little thank you for this wondrous ability to move my legs, to take thousands of steps every day.

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I have been seeing an amazing woman for home health speech therapy for several months. She had a massive stroke last summer, and survived against all odds. She is wheelchair-bound, but keeps pushing forward, keeps giving it 127%, and keeps smiling. Her faith and fortitude match that of her family, and she is not just strong, she is herculean. I don’t think she realizes that she inspires all of us.

She is one year younger than me.

She has an amazing physical therapy team, and several weeks ago, I arrived at the tail end of her physical therapy session. She was elated, because with the physical support from her walker and her therapist, she walked across her kitchen. It was, perhaps ten steps. Not ten thousand, but ten. And, for her, this was an amazing victory, likely feeling like ten thousand steps. I felt so honored to be there right after it happened, to be an almost-witness to this victory. She inspires the inspired.

I thought about my daily goals. Ten thousand steps. Every day, I am physically able to take those ten thousand steps and many more. I don’t think about each step like she does, I simply do it, as I have done all my life. I don’t count them, my tracker does that for me. After seeing her joy with just ten—or perhaps a few more—steps, I felt guilty for not savoring every step, for not being over-the-moon grateful for every single one of them.

I find myself taking this ability for granted. You would think, that after 25 years in this field, after seeing hundreds of people lose this ability, that I wouldn’t take it for granted. Yet, I still do.

Shame on me.

Instead of shame, however, I will offer more gratitude for this wondrous ability, this ability to move my body wherever I want to take it. Roughly half of the geography of the human body is dedicated to movement via our legs and hips, which reflects the importance of simply walking. Running, hiking and anything beyond walking are yet additional gifts.

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I have featured my Arizona friends in a few previous blogs. Yesterday, Tana, age 47, completed 53,273 steps in her first—and last, she says today—marathon.

She crossed the finish line with her friends, with incredible pain in her legs, but she finished. (far left.)

She began training only last year at age 46, and required cortisone injections in both knees to keep going. Yet, she kept going. She, too, inspires the inspired.

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Our mom was a walker, too. I remember her frequently taking off for walks on our country roads, setting a good example for all of us.

I called Suzanne one evening last week, and she and a friend were just returning from a walk.

Gail called me one evening last week while she was out walking, as she gets out and gets her steps in several times a week. She was a bit breathless, but she kept moving her legs as we talked. She made a comment about the moon, knowing I like to watch the moon, too. In her usual humorous style, she posted this after her walk:

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She might not be getting as many steps in lately, because she is having too much fun in her new ride:

To treat herself for her upcoming 60^th birthday, she brought this gem home, purchasing it from a local woman who could no longer drive. “Lola” is a 1974 Chevrolet Nova. Lola wasn’t a showgirl, as the Barry Manilow song may suggest, but Gail said she is now. In her usual humorous style, Gail is having the time of her life with Lola, cruising and carousing about town.

Gail and I had a Sunday morning phone conversation a bit ago. She expressed how excited she is about her upcoming birthday, and the celebrations sure to unfold. She understands that age and ability are gifts not to be taken for granted, and she is celebrating them. I checked with her to make sure, but I already knew the answer: she would love to hear from you to add to her birthday joy on or before February 21^st:

Gail Britt

810 South 6^th St

Atwood, KS 67730

If you’ve read much of my blog, she probably feels like your big sister, too.

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Take a walk, take a hike, or take a run. If you are able to, simply move your legs, and be sure to be grateful for the ability to do so. Our beautiful state of Kansas has so much outdoor glory to offer, so whenever possible, get out there and enjoy it. If you don’t live in Kansas, I’m sure your state—or country—has natural beauty to enjoy as well.

Sometimes, the hardest part of moving your body is just getting started. Start small. Walk around the block or to the mailbox. Once you get started, it’s easier to keep going. Action begets action. Walking begets walking. Hiking and running beget hiking and running, too.

That journey of however many steps begins with a single step.

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“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the hell she is. — Ellen Degeneres

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If you live in, or plan to visit Kansas, please get yourself a copy of this guidebook from the Kansas Sampler Foundation (www.kansassampler.org.) It features all the wonder and beauty of outdoor Kansas, as well as indoor sights, historic locations, one-of-a-kind stores, restaurants and manmade wonders from every town in the state. It makes a great gift, I gave Suzanne one for Christmas, and Gail just might get one in her birthday package, too.

Penner, Marci and Rowe, WenDee. The Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers. 2017, Newton, Kansas, Mennonite Press.

BE A SPORT

October 28, 2018October 28, 2018 / middlesisterkathleen / 7 Comments

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BE A SPORT

I like to move my body in some form of exercise every day. I hope I have made it abundantly clear to you in previous posts that the ability to do so is a gift not granted. My work has made me see that.

I exercise almost every day because it makes me feel better, and, as I age, as a prayer of gratitude for the ability to make it all work. I am already learning that age limits that.

But let’s not dwell on that.

I have never been an athlete, per se. I did attempt volleyball in high school, but it was not meant to be, although I do enjoy it. My long-distance running experiences in high school track laid the foundation for me to pick it up again six years after I stopped running track.

Twenty-eight years later, I am still running. I run because it makes me feel good.

I attempted coed softball with my husband early in our marriage. It became quickly apparent to me and the entire team that this venture was ill-fated; I possessed skills only for solitary endeavors, such as running in a straight line. I lacked the mental and physical coordination to be a team member of any value on the softball team.

I left that behind.

Five years ago, I experimented with yoga. I am still experimenting, but on a more regular and organized basis. Stretching in this fashion is good for any human body.

So, I stretch mine. Yoga stretches my brain, too, which is good for any human brain.

Ask anyone who knows me well and they will tell you I am not a sports fan. With the exception of our beloved Kansas City Royals Baseball, I have no desire to attend any professional sporting events. I realize what I am about to say is heresy to a hallowed American institution, but if I were given tickets to the Super Bowl–the pinnacle event of sports in the United States, I would pass them on.

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I am pretty sure that in any sport’s inception, it was intended to provide a sense of fun, fitness and friendly competition.

If I were appointed Goddess of all Sporting Events, I would magically ensure that these three elements were held foremost. I would eliminate any scandals, doping, mean spirits and underhandedness. I would ensure that every participant in every sport had equal playing time, and that all parties had fun.

I wouldn’t be very popular.

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About five years ago, Suzanne and I attended the county spelling bee that our niece and nephew were participating in. We were psyched and eager to watch them compete. We sat close to the front and had to sit on our hands. We considered painting our faces and cheering loudly for them, but we kept it subdued to save embarrassment for them.

If we’d had the time that particular Thursday prior to the 1:30 p.m. kickoff, we may have tailgated in the school parking lot. Why not?

Then there was the Quiz Bowl. My firstborn was a team member, traveling to several area schools. I had the good fortune to see him in the same town I was working in. Again, I held off on the face painting for his sake. I had to hold my hand over my mouth to keep from blurting out some answers in this battle of factual knowledge.

“Pennsylvania is the Keystone State!” It was tough to hold that one in. I used to live there. I kept it together—barely.

These events are the real deal for me. This is Fun—yes, with a capital F. Take me to a football game, and I may pass for a corpse. As I write this on the eve of the big match-up of the KC Chiefs vs. the Denver Broncos, the regional rival NFL teams, I know once again that putting these words in print is heresy.

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I do enjoy volleyball, likely because I understand it. I had the pleasure of seeing Gail’s college-age son compete on his university’s men’s club volleyball team this weekend.

I was in nearby Manhattan to meet my dear friend Shari for a fall hike through the famous Konza Prairie Trail. We moved our bodies in this outdoor activity among the splendor of fall foilage. I even got to see my son there as well.

We walked and ran this morning, again moving our bodies. Again, we found immediate reward in the payoff—we felt better.

We even picked up the paddles and hit the ping pong ball a few times in good-natured competition inside the locally famous donut shop.

Having already had a full weekend of athletic activities including hiking, running/walking, yoga, ping pong and volleyball, I had hoped to be able to observe a session of boxing as well. Let me explain:

I work with many people who have Parkinson’s Disease. This progressive neurological condition slowly and methodically attempts to rob the human body of its ability to move smoothly in good time. It also attempts to silence the voice for most people, and affects their swallowing ability.

There is an international boxing program known as Rock Steady Boxing® that is designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s. It helps them rebuild their strength, balance and coordination. It also helps them strengthen their voices in the process. Perhaps most importantly, as a by-product of all these gains, they are reminded they are still fighters in the Game of Life.

There is twice-weekly class held in Manhattan with these warriors and their trainers. A dear friend is one of these trainers, and a colleague of mine in our small city was recently trained to work within this program as well. I wanted to see the class in action.

It used to be held on Saturdays, but it has been moved to Friday instead, so I missed it. I didn’t get to take in this sporting event. I have seen videos, and it brings tears of amazement and joy to my eyes. This is the real deal; this is what sports in its purest form can do for the human body.

If you, or anyone you know could benefit from this, please visit their website at: www.rocksteadyboxing.org.

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Gail is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Our husbands are Kansas City Chiefs fans. Suzanne and I are not football fans. We don’t understand what all the hype is about. We don’t even understand the game; our brains simply aren’t wired for it. The spelling bee is more our style.

If you are a football fan, I hope your team wins. Most importantly, I hope it is a source of fun for you, like it was intended to be.

And if you aren’t already, get out there and move your body. If you move it within a competitive sporting event, be sure to have fun while you are competing. If it is a solitary venture, do whatever makes you feel best in your body and mind.

And in tomorrow’s regional NFL rivalry, may the best team win—and may every team member and spectator leave the stadium as a better person.

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I have had the pleasure of getting to know some awesome sisters through this blog who have made me a better person in ways small and large.

I wrote about Martha and Mary in Loads of Sisters (November 19th). They are Gail’s twin aunts by marriage, and they live in Manhattan. They came to see their great-nephew play volleyball, and I got to enjoy their company today as well. Today, their 60-something birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTHA AND MARY!

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I have honored my friends Tana and Amy, two other amazing sisters in two other posts (Swheat Girls Part Two—July 9th, 2017 and Stars and Stripes and Sisters Forever–July 8th, 2018). While on the Kansas State University Campus this morning, we took a moment to honor their grandfather, a former Director of Housing at KSU.

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Shari and I took in the majesty of the Kansas sunset from atop a hill outside Manhattan. Every time I take time to enjoy this splendor, I am always a winner, and I become a better person.

The Sister Lode

Celebrating Sisterhood

hiking

SUZANNE’S ISLAND

SHE LET HERSELF GO: PART TWO

THE GAIL EXPERIENCE

SIMPLE CELEBRATIONS

10,000 STEPS

BE A SPORT

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