My then ten year old son, Chris, taught me to juggle some years ago after I had been trying to learn but mostly dropping things for a year and a half. He learned first and taught me. I keep at it partly because I like the exercise. Seeing things fly through the air sort of celebrates life in a manner similar to music.
I started lap swimming nearly every week day a few years ago to keep my back in shape. Did you know that for many people in our sedentary lifestyles each passing decade means a loss of about five pounds of muscle mass? Most of us gain weight in middle age but it is fat, not muscle. Cheerful thought, huh? So maybe having a bad back has been good for me overall. This is a small commercial for regular exercise, walking or swimming or whatever is great. It is kind of nice to just get away from it all for a bit, too. I usually come back refreshed.
A sailboat is a large hole in the water down which you pour money. I am between boats at the moment. This moment has lasted about ten years. Before we had kids I worked at the University of Guam for four years and kept a catamaran at the Marianas Yacht Club. Later I kept a keelboat on Lake Minnewaska and then after that on the small slough behind our house called Crystal Lake. With nearly adult children and college expenxe and all I expect to be between boats for quite some time. A college education is a large hole in the future down which you pour money. I will be in debt a lot when they graduate but can think of no better way in the world to spend money than on my kidŐs education. Except it would be nice to have a sailboat again.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Email Jean at: (richarrj@caa.morris.umn.edu)