Prescience

I just got back from a family vacation, a week at the beach.  We had fun but Tropical Storm Debby arrived the same day we did and with four kids under 6, there was always a crisis.   Somebody was always stressed for some reason or another.   Some cried, some whined, and then there were the kids.

I think when we plan these things, our vision is for perfect weather, beautiful scenery, and absence of conflict.   The food is just what everyone wants and the world is perfect.

The reality is usually quite different.   We burn the toast, run out of milk, and the toilet runs over because of something that shouldn't have been put in there.

In my opinion, that's part of what makes these trips special.  I mean, come on...what do you remember about your vacation 5 years ago?  Do you remember the  sunsets and the camaraderie or do you remember the flight delays (which forced everyone to build a living room in your own corner of the airport terminal) or the time you had to make a meal out of just what was in the fridge because the rain was coming down too hard to venture a repeat trip to the grocery store?

Do you remember that you simply found a way to get along?  Or played games for hours because the car broke down and you couldn't get out of the hotel?

We simply don't remember the easy times as readily.  It's the mistakes and problems that we encounter that really stick in our minds.

I bet your family starts lots of conversations just like ours does.  "Remember the time..." is the precursor to many a fine discussion.  

Don't get me wrong, I've had plenty of wonderful trips and this one was most excellent.  I've been blessed to travel a lot and have enjoyed times far and wide.   My family gets along well and we laugh and enjoy each other's company.

But to tell you that they have all been lovely and without conflict is a stretch.  

I think that's the way life is.   We might want everything to be perfect and smooth and always easy but that really isn't real.   Life is filled with obstacles and difficulties.  

Life isn't all about those majestic mountains and walks in the park, hand in hand.  It's not about everything being easy.  Life doesn't mean that you'll never be hurt, that you will never have an argument, that everything will always be perfect.

In fact, that may not be the way it needs to be.   What would we learn if life never taught us the lessons to be learned about dealing with difficulty, hardship, and conflict? 

Life is about saying what you mean and meaning what you say.   About treating others as you want to be treated.  It's about seeing others for who they are and not what they've done for you or what they have.

Life is about who you love, who you trust, and who is there for you at the end of the day. 

Protect your noggin

If you read this even occasionally., you probably already knew that I ride a bicycle.  

Friends, family, and bare acquaintances often question my sanity since I choose to share roads on a two-wheeled, self-propelled vehicle that weighs barely 20 pounds with vehicles weighing in excess of 2000-4000 pounds, wearing what is not much more than a piece of plastic covered Styrofoam on my head.  

I mean, there is no doubt that if a bicycle collides with a car or truck, the bicycle loses.   Every time.  Yet, I'm still out there and plan on being out there as long as my body allows.  

But one thing I will not do:   Ride without a helmet.   Ever.  I won't roll down my driveway without a helmet on my head.

Statistics tell us that bicycle helmets save lives.     According to the New England Journal of Medicine, riders with helmets had an 85% reduction in their risk of head injury and an 88% reduction in their risk of brain injury.  

Unfortunately, the Center for Disease Control, reports that  only 15 to 25 percent of children 14 and under usually wear a bicycle helmet.

In Tennessee, that is against the law.   The Tennessee Bicycle Helmet Statute  (Tennessee Code Annotated 55-52-105) says:  "With regard to any bicycle used on a state roadway, it is unlawful for any person under sixteen (16) years of age to operate or be a passenger on a bicycle unless at all times when so engaged such person wears a protective bicycle helmet of good fit fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the helmet...."

Yet, I see kids all the time riding without a helmet.  

Again, according to the Center for Disease Control,  Head injuries account for 62% of bicycle-related deaths, for 33% of bicycle-related emergency department visits, and for 67% of bicycle-related hospital admissions.

The Snell Memorial Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to research, education, testing, and development of helmet safety standards.   They have found that the number of bicycling head injuries requiring hospitalization exceeds the total of all head injuries from baseball, football, skateboards, horseback riding, snowboarding, ice hockey, in-line skating, and lacrosse.  Combined.

That indirect costs for injuries to unhelmeted cyclists are $2.3 billion yearly. 

And According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, Ninety-one percent of bicyclists killed in 2009 weren't wearing helmets.

Convinced yet?

What I also see too often is mom and/or dad riding without a helmet but the kids are wearing theirs.  What, your brain isn't as important as theirs?  Suffer a serious brain injury and see how it impacts your kids.

So, the bottom line, is if you're on a bicycle, wear a helmet.   And not the cheapest one you can find at the big box store.   Your noggin is too important for that.

Go to a bike shop and get a good one.  Get a bike shop employee to help make sure it is a good fit and then ask them to teach you how to wear it properly.   If they don't seem to have time, you're in the wrong shop.

Cats and Dogs

I've always heard that there are "Cat People" and "Dog People."  I've had a few cats through the years but I may  be a dog person since I can't remember any of their names.

There are also "True Dog People" that are totally devoted to their pets.   Their lives revolve around their dogs.  Dog sitters, dog walkers, dog groomers...I can understand all of those.  Dog psychologists and doggie day-care, not so much.

I really haven't owned a dog since I was a teenager.   Back then it was a non-descript mutt that was brown so was named Brownie and was notable only because she really didn't like anybody.  I really didn't consider Brownie a real dog.

I had a real dog once.   It was a beagle that I got when I was about 6.   I named it Bubbles after a killer whale that I saw at Sea World right before I got him.   The bad news is that he died not too long afterward.   We think he got bitten by a snake.

There was another real dog that lived at our house but it really belonged to my daughter.   But then said daughter moved away to college and Bubba the Dalmatian became mine, heart and soul.   This dog lived for me to get home in the evening, forgoing food all day until I got home and he could confirm that it was truly me.

Forget fetching or chasing squirrels--riding beside me in the front seat of our Jeep with the top down and the doors off was truly heaven on earth for Bubba.

Bubba helped me understand True Dog People.  He grieved when I was gone on a business trip or was otherwise away from him for a few days.   I was gone for a week one time and we thought he would starve.

The night I buried him, I cried like a baby.

My wife and I had one other dog but it wasn't a real dog either.   It was a Shih Tzu named McGhee after our favorite character on a TV show we used to watch, back when we had time to watch TV.  This dog was rendered permanently insane when we were forced to shave her after not properly caring for her long coat.  Really.

The reality of it though is that dogs love you no matter what you do.   Despite the cruelty, I bet Michael Vick's dogs probably at least liked him.   Such is the devotion of a dog.

Dogs are loyal companions that really don't care what mood you're in.   Happy when you come home?  Oh heck no...they are deliriously joyful!  Your arrival simply made their day complete.

That's probably why I never really liked cats.   A dog looks at you and thinks: "He feeds me, he pets me, he must be God".  A cat looks at you and thinks: "He feeds me, he pets me, I must be God"

Dogs are so good at this love thing that we can actually learn about love from them.   Maybe that's why some people seem to like dogs more than people.  You can hardly blame them.   I think I'm the only person in America that has been disappointed by a dog.

OK, so it's pretty clear I'm a Dog Person but I think my wife and I will probably never own another.   After Bubba, it would be all downhill.

I Used To Play Basketball

I used to play basketball.

Yeah, I know...a lot of you used to play basketball.  But I played up until a couple of months ago and I'm 59 years old.

I love to play basketball.  For most of my life, I've been what some folks call a "gym rat."

I would play basketball any day, any time.  Indoors or out.  Half court, full court, it didn't matter.  I had a standing game at noon on Tuesday and Thursday for 25+ years and a traditional holiday game that dates back to when my children could barely walk.

At 40, I remember thinking "how cool would it be to still be playing at 50."

At 50, I thought that it would be great if I could just play until I was 55.

At 55, I decided that I would just play until I couldn't play anymore.

I love to play basketball so much that for years, it has been how I go to sleep at night.  I would imagine myself in a game, cross-over dribble, jump shot, nothing but net.

Fake right, pass to open man for easy lay-up.  Jab step, 3-pointer.  Drop step and leave 'em standing.   And I never miss.

Somehow, it relaxed me, took my mind off the day's events.   Next thing I knew (or didn't know), I was asleep.

But I don't play anymore.  Back in the early fall, I was having some stomach problems that forced me to be off ibuprofen for 3 months.  Vitamin-I (ibuprofen) was my friend.

The net result was that without ibuprofen, my joints hurt.  Lots of 'em.  Mainly when I played basketball.

So being the mathematician that I am, I figured basketball+no ibuprofen=pain therefore no basketball=no pain (and you thought that Algebra was worthless).

So I made the agonizing decision to give up the game that I love.   Besides, that joint pain was interfering with my bike riding.

I ask my patients all the time to make smart decisions.   Sometimes, it's little changes.

Sometimes, it's big ones.

Habits, activities, hobbies, the things we love are hard to give up.  

In some cases, we simply need to find a better way to do the same thing.  Like flattening your back and bending your knees to pick something up off the floor.

Or instead of setting your briefcase into the back floorboard by lifting it over the seat, you get out of your vehicle to do it. 

Tennis elbow can often be fixed by adjusting your stroke mechanics.  Golf elbow by adjusting your swing.

Back pain or hand numbness on a bicycle?  You need your seat adjusted and a bike fit performed by a pro.

Shin splints from running?  You probably need better arch support.

Shoulder pain from throwing?  It might be that you need better strength on the back of your shoulder.

But sometimes you just need to avoid the offending activity.

For me, it meant that I just needed to eliminate the jumping and cutting, the constant pounding on my knees that basketball produced.

 I will miss it but my body was sending me clear messages.  Messages that my brain just couldn't ignore.

  My advice for the day?  Sometimes (most times), you've just got to listen to your body.

Dads and Daughters

I'm going to talk about Dads and Daughters today.  Dads and sons are important and having a son has been one of the great privileges of my life.  But we have a real need in the world today for better relationships between fathers and daughters.  So here goes.

Remember  Dad, you're the first man your daughter ever loves and nothing can ever change that.  You might think you want a little boy first but when that first one is born and it's a girl, trust me, you'll be fine.

I remember everything about the birth of my first child, a little girl.  With her first breath, she owned me--had me wrapped around her little finger.  And still does.

My daughter was everything I could ever have wanted.   She loved me even though I really had no clue what I was doing.

She loved doing whatever I loved doing.   She tolerated me when I sometimes gave her reasons not to.  She was my shadow, willing to go anywhere with me.

She played sports when it might not have been fun.   She learned to love my hikes and camping trips when that might not have been her favorite thing to do.

She was perfect in every way.  And nothing has changed.

In middle school, she let me be a part of her life at a time when hanging around with your dad might not have been so cool.

In high school, she sought her own way and became her own person and that was wonderful.

In college, she applied herself fully and immersed herself into the college experience, becoming a scholar and a star athlete along the way.

She's tall and fit and moves with a grace and even at times with a little swagger that I could watch all day. She's smart and a good mom and has done some things lately that I find heroic (she'll just have to tell you about that).

I don't understand not being wholly devoted to your children, regardless of their gender.  I know of one grandad who has a distinct and easily observed preference for the boy-grandchild, even neglecting the girl-grandchild.   Maybe he never had a girl.

Dads, take care of your daughters.  Love them, honor them, protect them, cherish them.

Play ball with them.  They won't break.  In fact, it's just as important (if not more so) for you to run and hit and throw with your daughter as it is with your son. 

Tell her how beautiful she is.  I don't tell my daughter often enough.  I hope she knows it.

Dad, love her and she'll love you like no other.  And then one day she will fall in love with the new most important man in her life and that's OK too.

Happy Father's Day to me. 

Enjoy your summer but be smart about it

It might not officially be summer yet but we've had enough hot days that it sure seems like it's already here. So let me take this warm weather opportunity to share some basic summertime facts with you.

First, hot weather should be taken seriously.  People die from this stuff.  Heat-related illness kills over 400 people in the United States every year.

Know the signs of heat-related problems.  A red face, lots of sweating, and labored breathing are all signs of heat stress.  There may not be a problem yet but it's definitely time to be watching out.

If that same person becomes dizzy, lethargic, or confused--you have a problem.  Get them cool in a hurry.  Immersing them in cold water is the best first aid.  If that's not available then anything you can do to cool them off is good.

Ice packs, wet towels, and shade are all important.  Moving air helps.

If they stop sweating, you have a medical emergency on your hands.  Call 911 and tell them to please hurry.

If it's an option, plan your outdoor activities around the times of day that are cooler.  If that's not an option, wear loose fitting, light-colored clothing.  And drink lots of fluids--sports drinks if you're going to be outside for more than hour.  Water is OK if your time outside is going to be short.

Acclimatization is hugely important.  You just can't go from being in air-conditioning 24/7 to exercising in the heat without expecting problems.  If you really want to enable your body to exercise or play in the heat, then you might even consider turning off the air-conditioner altogether.

Back in my day as a football player (yes, another old fogey moment is upon us), we had far fewer heat-related issues.  We also had far fewer air-conditioners.

Those two are definitely connected.  I remember well the first car we had that had an air-conditioner and the only air-conditioner in our home for most of my growing up years was a small window unit in my parents' bedroom so my dad could sleep during the day when he worked all night.

We also didn't drink much and we now know how stupid that was.

With the sun closer to the earth (after all, that's what makes it summer), we also need to be aware of damage to our skin.  Always remember that sunburn is bad so do whatever it takes to avoid getting sunburned.

If you're going to apply sunscreen and then go exercise, do it early and make sure it's the type not affected by sweating.  And even then, stop, dry off, and re-apply every couple of hours. 

Pay particular attention to those high exposure areas like your nose, neck, and the tips of your ears.  I use the highest SPF I can find on those areas.

Sunburn leads to skin cancer which, if untreated, can lead to other, deadly cancers. 

Too much tanning leads to skin damage which leads to early aging.  Yes, I know I'm perpetually tanned but that's due to being outdoors too much but that's my job and my hobbies and my yard.

And don't forget your eyes.  Sunglasses in the bright sun are always a good idea.  And hats.  Hats are always good (visors help but not if you've got a donut hole--and if you're old enough and male, you know what I'm talking about). 

Enjoy your summer but be smart about it.

Exercise for everyone

A physical therapist buddy of mine just recently coached his 240 pound banker through a bike ride that would challenge any of us.   He rode alongside him, encouraging him all along the way, and although it took the two of them a bit long to get there (5 hours and 15 minutes to go 50 miles and climb 5000 feet), there really aren't too many fit/slim people that could make that one.

The photograph of this guy crossing the finish line is awesome.  And it got me to thinking:  There's got to be room for exercising at all levels.

I'm really proud of our local Cherokee CrossFit team that did great in the Regional CrossFit Games, and those individuals are probably the most fit people in our community, but there's got to be a place for everybody else.

 I'm fit but I'm not in their league.

 I do exercise daily but I'm probably not real normal (I just heard my wife say Amen).    I HAVE to exercise.  It's like breathing and eating to me.   Oh, there are days when I'll take a rest day because I've beat my body down but otherwise it's every day, year-round.

If I come across as self-righteous, I'm not.   It just isn't in me not to exercise.  If I come across as hard core, well, yes I am.   But that's what works for me.  It might not work for you.

Regular exercise is an important part of being healthy.  Yet, there has to be a place for that person that really doesn't want to exercise every day.

There has to be a place for that person that prefers a much more casual approach to their exercise program than a 70 mile bike ride, a 10 mile run, or 100 burpees  (trust me, that last one is definitely not for everyone).

You do need to do it right.  I can tell you that there is a lot that I see that just doesn't work.   Sitting on a stationary bicycle, casually pedaling while reading a book probably isn't going to make you fit.   There is a better way of strength training than biceps curls and bench presses.

But the person that is out there regularly, walking to the point of breathing hard, exercising to the point that their heart rate is elevated, has to be respected.  There has to be a place for that person.

My advice if you want to get serious about it?  Seek professional help in the form of a personal trainer that comes recommended by people you trust and who happens to not be the most muscular person in the gym. 

If that personal trainer spends more time trying to impress you with what they know instead of trying to find out where you want to go...well, just say "no thank you" and walk right out the door. 

Whatever you do, find what works for you.