Six to Twelve Seconds

At the drugstore Friday, after that morning’s workout, picking up photos I’d sent to be developed, I looked for Christmas ribbon, because I didn’t like how the ribbon I was using on the White Elephant Gifts was turning out.

The selection of ribbons at the drugstore was woefully inadequate, so I headed on over to Walmart.

While there, a young man stepped in front of me, said "Hello".

I wasn’t born yesterday, instantly put the intrusion into perspective and said, "What are you selling?"

"I’m not selling anything, just saying hello".

"Young good-looking men always have an ulterior motive", said I.

That elicited a smile, but didn’t throw him off his game as he continued by asking me who my cable provider was and trying to lure me over to discuss "deals".

Like I’d assumed ……… Ulterior motive, but I escaped and went on my way to still not finding ribbon I liked better than what I already had.

When all was said and done, I ended up wrapping all three gifts in the same butcher paper and did a better job of using the ribbon I had on hand.

So that project is done, and last year's roll of butcher paper has been depleted.

Also done is my Christmas shopping.

The great grandbabies are not on my Gifting list this year, because 1) they have too much stuff as it is, 2) are too young to expect a gift, and 3) they are still very much enjoying last year’s Christmas gift — the Mickey Mouse Airplane.

Once they outgrow that airplane ……… or destroy it, or get old enough to expect a gift, I’ll add them to my Gifting list and find another big something.

That left me with just the Mail Lady and Trainer to take care of.

So, on the way back to the complex from Walmart, I popped into Starbucks and got gift cards — $25 for the Mail Lady, $50 for Trainer.

Responding to the Barista’s friendly questions as to who the cards were for, he said Mail Lady was going to be jealous Trainer’s got more on his card than she does.

Obviously, that’s not going to happen, but I played along, rationalizing the difference by saying "Mail Lady gets my mail right, but Trainer keeps my body going".

Saying that, about keeping my body going, reminded me of a study I’d read about a few weeks ago.

The study suggested the ability to balance on one leg might be a "key indicator of well-being and healthy aging".

There was a chart attached to the study, which chart broke down by age the length of time one should be able to stand on one leg.

I decided to test it out.

As you can see, I was off to a rocky start, but did manage 6 to 12 seconds at the end.

Those numbers place me a little over what is expected in the 80+ category, but with five years of cross-training, three times a week at the Pain Cave, I thought I'd do better.

Guess it takes practice.

Will you try?

If you do, let me know the results.

Don't fall.