Old man walking
By: Ron Wayne
Tags: Fitness, Retirement, Health, Memories, Exercise

My grandparents and me in front of my parents’ house about 1960 or so.

It’s the simple moments we remember best.

When I was young, my grandfather would take me on long walks while my father visited with his mother each week. Hand in hand, we traversed the sidewalks in his city neighborhood en route to the bay front. I was awed by the stone lighthouse that stands on a bluff overlooking Lake Erie. We also would walk down to the bay and make our way along the rocky shore. We watched the fishing boats and sailboats, and an occasional freighter.

He was a quiet man, partly because English wasn’t his native language, but it was also his nature. So we would make the journeys quietly hand in hand, and that was enough for a little boy to know he was loved.

I’ve relived these fond memories on my daily walks since Oct. 1, and I hope they allow me to live as long as my grandpa.

He never owned a car during his 97 years on this planet. He walked a few miles to work at the paper mill for 47 years, and to the grocery, credit union and elsewhere. I believe his pedestrian life allowed him to live so long. Men born in 1890 lived to only 50 on average.

I’ve always enjoyed walking; it became a lifelong habit starting in first grade.

I grew up in an older suburb, and all my schools for 12 years were within walking distance, a harsh trek in the winter as the Canadian winds blew snow onto the lake plain and dropped temperatures. I know it sounds like an old man’s story, but walking a mile or so in a snow belt winter was rough. Luckily, I now live in Florida.

As a retiree, I have no excuse for not walking each day. As there are days when I don’t feel like I accomplished much, I can always count my walk as an achievement. And there are many health benefits.

Walking 2 miles a day can lower blood pressure, reduce belly fat, and preserve lean muscle, research has found. One immediate benefit is an improved mental outlook and a good feeling about yourself.

This simple act reminds me of my body’s potential: I can get from one place to another without any vehicle or device. I feel like I’m reaching back to my evolutionary roots before the wheel was invented.

The solitary act allows me to choose my own path and pace. As I get into it, a sense of momentum takes over, and I’m not even thinking about the effort. The best way to do cardio is with music, and I have a bunch of favorite tunes. I listen to music from YouTube on my phone, and my knowledge of jazz and classical music has expanded. I highly recommend getting a premium subscription to YouTube. Otherwise, it can be so annoying when an obnoxious commercial interrupts the rhythm of Ravel’s “Bolero.”

I’m very observant and always curious so I enjoy the sights and sounds of walking outside. Unfortunately, the smells aren’t always enjoyable, at least in urban/suburban areas. Recently, I was deep into my walk when I started to smell something more foul than the aroma of any Dumpster. A few more steps, and I saw a carcass of what I think was a raccoon lying between the sidewalk and the road. The stench could make you ill. Sadly, roadkill such as squirrels and mice is common. Also, never get behind a garbage truck.

And people are still discarding trash as though the world was their garbage can. Plastic bags and bottles are abundant. And now used surgical masks, too.

The best reason for a retiree to take up daily walks is that it’s free. The only cost is a good pair of shoes. And a steps app for your phone can be found for free, too.