A Look at 66

In this episode (166) - A Look at 66 . . .

Can you believe it's the middle of August already? School is just around the corner, and summer is coming to an end; this year, the 2022 Sierra adventure is in September. And - this week, I'm looking at 66. You're thinking, well, as another year slips by, we're wiser, stronger, pondering retirement, and developing a plan to stay active. The fleeting reality of time.

However, staying active when you retire is not just turning on a switch. An active lifestyle depends on foundational health habits built over many years to transport yourself physically into the future. My exercise program has always included bicycling, hiking, stretching, and daily walks to keep myself fit. But we're all destined to face that reality - as you age, you cannot do what you did as little as five years ago.

For example, reading old blog posts, I realized my last Sierra wilderness backpack trip was five years ago.

How is that possible?

In hindsight, I'm thankful I've diligently documented my adventures. On the Fly provides a glimpse through the "time portal" to events and activities that have filled my life with adventure, friendship, love, and immense joy! Oh, by the way, if you enjoyed last week's podcast - A Bear Sighting, for more, search my blog for Sierra Reflections.

Why five years ago? Well, just short of making excuses, when you reach the north side of 60, it's easy to land unexpectedly on the injured list. In 2021 I overextended my knee and spent the summer in pain, limping around the house; going to the Sierras was out of the question.

Rehabilitation took about eight months. I replaced my running shoes, fitted them with custom insoles, and cut back on my walking distance. Recovery at this age is a slow process. Just when I thought, great, my knee is back to normal - loading bicycles in the bed of our truck, I injured my rotator cuff.

Oh, brother, what's next?

So, I went to the chiropractor to check my posture and balance. Yes, I was a mess, completely out of balance.

Then to the doctor for a complete physical.

"You're responding well to the medication; your cholesterol is down. Is there anything you want to bring up?"

"I did something to my shoulder, and I have this sharp pain when I lift my arm."

"Looks like you damaged your rotator cuff."

He instructed me, "Do you have a large rubber stretch band? Hold your arms about shoulder height, and slowly extend and release the band. Three sets of 15 should do it. These exercises will restore your shoulders' strength and help heal your rotator cuff."

My friends, you don't appreciate how much you take your health for granted until something disrupts it.

Why am I telling you all of this? To remind you and me to practice this fundamental truth from Zig Ziglar, "When you do the things you need to do when you need to do them, the day will come when you can do the things you want to do when you want to do them."

Time marches on - that's the reality. Don't let your age be your excuse for not challenging yourself daily to scale your mountain!

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. I'll see you in the next episode.

Comments

That Fateful Four-Letter Word

In this episode, A Masterclass in Efficiency. For nearly four months, the western border of our property has stood as a living monument to determination, dubious planning, and forensic-level lumber acquisition. Since February, our neighbor Steve has been conducting what can only be described as a masterclass in deliberate calculation. This was never going to be one of those slick home-improvement shows where a cheerful pair of men installs a fence between commercial breaks, sipping lemonade. No. This was real life in retirement. We scaled the vertical wilderness of our hillside. We mixed concrete with the precision of medieval alchemists. We bled, we sweated, and we fought hand-to-hand with a buried tree stump that had the structural integrity of a Cold War bunker. By this week—May 16th, for those keeping score—the glorious end was finally within reach. The fence stood proudly, the line was straight, and victory practically hummed in the air. Only one major task remained: installing t...

Truth for Sale

This episode is inspired by Elton John & Bernie Taupin On Memorial Day, I took my first bike ride since the accident , seeking proof that my legs, lungs, and nerves still remembered the road. The morning air carried that familiar Southern California mix of ocean haze, exhaust, eucalyptus, and sun-baked asphalt. My tires hummed across pavement I’ve ridden for years. Somewhere between the steady click of the chain and the rhythm of my breathing, Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s The Captain and the Kid found its way into my ears. There’s a strange kind of magic when the cadence of a ride syncs perfectly with a song you know by heart. Suddenly, the music and lyrics stop being background noise and become a lens. And through that lens, the road started talking. I've been cycling on this road some, Can't help feeling I've been showing my friends around. I've seen it grow from next to nothing, To a giant eatin’ up our town. Called up the tealeaves and the tarots, Asked the...

When Nature Comes to You

Sometimes the best way to experience the world isn’t to go searching for it, but to sit still and let it come to you. Lately, the view from my reading chair has become a vibrant little stage. Our backyard feeder has drawn a steady parade of wildlife—bold flashes of blue from the Western Scrub Jays, brilliant bursts of color from the Hooded Orioles, and Purple Finches—transforming quiet afternoons into a chorus of motion and song. But the most captivating performance unfolds just inches beyond my window. For the past couple of weeks, a young hummingbird mother has been perched on her tiny, beautifully woven nest. Hummingbirds usually seem made of pure nervous energy, yet here she is: perfectly still, patient, and devoted. Watching her quiet vigil - day after day - has felt almost magical. Life seems to be blooming in every direction right now, renewing itself in real time. It’s a gentle reminder to slow down, look outside, and notice the quiet miracles surrounding us. John Muir once wro...

The Eighth Wonder of the Suburban World

Mark your calendars, folks. Update the history books. Notify the Smithsonian. Move over, Pyramids of Egypt. Step aside, Hoover Dam. Future civilizations will speak of this day in hushed, reverent tones. May 22, 2026, will forever be remembered as the moment humanity reached the pinnacle of suburban engineering excellence. Earlier today, my neighbor Steve and I drove the final screw into what can only be described as the most overbuilt property divider in North County. The Fence! And then there’s the gate. Good grief, the gate. Calling it just a gate is almost disrespectful. It looks like the entrance to a medieval fortress or to Hogwarts Castle. It swings open with the heft of a bank vault and closes with the wave of a magic wand. At this point, we’re considering applying for FAA clearance to install a helicopter pad on top of it. This glorious odyssey began in early February, the primitive era. From the start, we made a sacred pact: we would not become one of those people. You ...

On The Fly

Search This Blog