Don't Overlook the Value of FREE

 Guest Writer:  Ruth Morse

Our area was hit hard last week with major flooding, leaving massive destruction but, thankfully, no loss of life. It seemed a bit insensitive to write something funny or quirky in light of what so many are facing.

But I do have one suggestion to offer: FREE is always the best route to take. I supposed that sounds too simple. And, surely, if you grew up Maslar, like Val did, you learned that well before your went to kindergarten! But sometimes the rest of us overlook FREE.

I have been attending an exercise class in our senior community that is just that: FREE. Don't get excited for me. This is not cardio. No Jane Fonda or even Richard Simmons! These are termed bone-saver exercises, designed to help strengthen muscles, increase mobility and range of motion, better your balance, keep your bones in good shape.....

I go pretty faithfully. This is held in our Community Room and there are NO wall mirrors. Yay! Do you think I would be there if I had to stare at myself or accidentally get a glimpse at myself schlepping away? Not on your life!

So I am left with a mental picture of how graceful I look. Bear in mind that my brain seems to have a convenient filter that makes me think I am younger looking and thinner than what I see in the mirror. So it is only natural that my mental image of me doing the exercises is somewhat skewed. I tend to think of myself as looking like the instructor, Kathy, who has really good range of motion, looks graceful and struggles with none of the exercises! If only!

That's OK. So I don't look like Kathy. Surely I look better than the lady beside me, who shall remain nameless. At least I think I do. At least I want to think I do. OK, maybe I don't. But I'll keep slugging away at it. From the gravel I hear grinding in my neck, to the bursitis in my hip and arthritis most everywhere else, I gotta do something to keep things operational. And it's FREE!

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...and one more thing......
uh, I'll get back to you when I remember it.
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The Cheap Senior Citizen is a Guest Writer who occasionally shares helpful hints she has learned through her experience.
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