"Keep your feet moving!" I didn't play a lot of organized hockey when I was younger, but I'd often spend much of my time during the winter months playing pickup games. Despite my lack of "formal" hockey training, I did pick up one key phrase from the iciest of sports: "Keep your feet moving!"
That's been my philosophy my entire life. I "play" life like the most basic facets of a hockey game - I'm either out on the ice going 100 miles per hour, or I'm resting on the bench. I don't know a third way of doing things.
For example, walking. I couldn't do a slow, relaxing walk if I tried. I just want to "get there." Unless I'm walking in downtown Hayward, Wis., or walking solely to enjoy scenery, forget about it. I'm off to the races to reach my destination - which allows me more time to sit and relax.
So if I'm on my way to a high school basketball game, I just want to get out of my car and into the gym. That's it. No stopping to observe how nice the brick on the school is or to appreciate how hot or cold the weather is. Know why I want to "get there?" So I can get a good seat, get comfortable, maybe grab a hot dog (Maybe? Who am I kidding?) and take a look at both teams' rosters.
My wife, on the other hand, is not like me at all in that regard. She's on the level all the time. She's never running around like a crazy person, nor is she sitting around all the time.
ADVERTISEMENT
Our dogs? Same thing! Laurie's dog, Chloe, is very even-keeled and maintains a steady path of motion. When we're outside, she kind of lolligags around, sniffing the grass.
My dog, Greta, is either sprinting like Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics (she is so fast and big, it sounds like a horse galloping past you) or lying around completely idle and watching television like Homer Simpson. When she's outside, Greta doesn't simply walk - it's just not in her nature. She's either speeding after some squirrel or lying in the sun. Just like me!
When I was a baseball pitcher in high school and college, I was notorious for working so quickly - and it worked well for me! I'd pitch the ball - and when the catcher would get it back to me, I'd check my runners and be ready to fire another pitch. Hey, the batters could've easily stepped out of the batter's box, but they didn't!
But if they did step out, I'd nail them right in the thigh.
All right, all right, I've never done that...intentionally. It's just that you've got to "keep your feet moving!"
Pine Journal Editor Mat Gilderman can be contacted at: mgilderman@pinejournal.com .
