Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Sport or Fitness (02/15/07)
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TITLE: This Old Beached Whale | Previous Challenge Entry
By Venice Kichura
02/17/07 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
I searched through pots ‘n pans.
“Just look beneath the sink,” Ed said,
Beside the soda cans.”
“Gee thanks,” I smirked and grabbed the pan,
Then “taped” my hands and mouth;
Since my dear husband has retired
He’s rearranged our house.
Our spices now are ABCed
As well as our canned goods
And I’m about to lose my mind
As Mamma said I would.
She’d said, “You’ll have him all day long,
I’m warning you right now,
Unless you guide him out the door.”
The question though is “how”.
He’s not stressed out since he’s retired,
No boss or overtime,
But we both know he needs some pals,
Why can’t he work part-time?
An extrovert he talks all day---
He misses friends at work,
He even talks to strangers now,
The corner grocer clerk.
And here I am an introvert
Who longs to be alone,
So I can write without a sound,
A house that’s all my own.
Then God just dropped three little words
Into my prayers one day,
The Fitness Center, down the street,
Oh sign him up today.
When I suggested he should go
He smiled and said, “Sounds good,”
As I shot up a silent “thanks!”
So glad he understood.
But then he glared at my fat rear;
The air grew very still.
He calmly said, “Please come along.
I’ll gladly foot the bill.”
“I’ve been there, done that,” I replied,
Don’t you recall last year?
I fizzled out the last three months
Though started out sincere.”
Yet somehow I drove down with him
If just to check it out,
Although I wasn’t sure I’d join,
Had more than just a doubt.
At least they had some TVs there
So I would not get bored
When I work out with weights and bikes
And push-ups to record.
I glanced up at a TV set
And saw right on the news,
The man from Michelin lost weight,
Spare tires, he did lose.
Okay, now Lord, I hear ‘ya clear,
I’ll cut back on my food;
This old beached whale will join the gym
And one day be renewed.
Then Ed inquired, “Please, what’s the time
When most folks here work out?
I want to make some friends in town.
Retired, I’ve been without.”
But I chimed in, “Oh let me come
When others are away.
The less they see this old beached whale,
The better off, I say.”
As Ed left early the next day
For his aerobics class,
I got some needed writing done;
My goals I did surpass.
Then spent, Ed fell through the front door
At quarter after one,
But thrilled he’d met new friends today
And now my turn for “fun”.
I trudged into the gym and groaned.
“What have I signed up for?
I am the oldest woman here,
The next is 24.”
With college kids and trim young moms
On every single bike,
I stood upon the last tread mill
And sighed, “I’ll take a hike.”
At 2.4 (that’s miles per hour)
I “crawled” at my own pace
And marveled at the younger folks,
At 5.2 they race.
Instead of news, they stared at soaps,
And trashy talk show guests,
Who shared their filth on Dr. Phil,
Their lives, a jumbled mess.
One day I took my treasured book,
Determined to ignore.
I read The Purpose-Driven Life
For all God had in store.
Then much to my surprise I heard
A shapely, tanned housewife,
Flick off her soap and softly cry,
“Is there more to this life?”
“Twas then I closed my book and prayed,
I hear ‘ya, loud and clear.
Guess you can use this old beached whale
To rescue souls held dear?
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