Tonight I’m thinking about an aspect of growing up that my kids and grandkids, to say nothing of the greats, will consider unfathomable. I’m talking about the movies. Remember when they’d wheel the movie projector into classrooms and lower the blinds? Then whatever boy (It was never a girl!) who knew how to thread and run the projector did so. At that point, the lights would be turned off and the movie would start.
These were black and white movies, and not cartoons either. They would last maybe ten to fifteen minutes. One that was particularly memorable was The Man Without A Country—a US service man in the 1800s who, after being court marshaled and renouncing his country, was sentenced to sailing the seas for the remainder of his life. I’m pretty sure we saw that one every year from fourth grade on.
But the one I’m thinking about tonight is The Tortoise and the Hare. The tortoise and hare in question were real animals as opposed to animated ones, and you all know the story. The hare can run like crazy, but he goes dashing off hither and yon while the tortoise just keeps plugging along, and he’s the one who gets there first.
I’m the tortoise. When Jules Verne was writing Around the World in Eighty Days, he wasn’t talking about walking. As of April 6, I’ve been walking a minimum of 10,000 steps a day almost every day for ten years. It’s not fast. The days the idea of my doing 6000 steps in 60 minutes is in my rearview mirror, but last Friday, I passed another million-step milestone, clocking in at 41. Right now I’m at 19,500 miles. Not around the world yet, but I’m getting there. And as of today, my walking streak is at 1333 days. Whew!
Keep going!
I have said it before, and will say it again; you are an amazing lady.
Blessing to you and Bill.
From mid 1963 to late 1965 I was stationed on the USS Manatee. When we were at sea we were able to watch movies on the mess decks, the only space on the ship big enough to do that. I’d get to run the projector most times, and I have to admit to burning through a few films when the reel stopped turning.
So many steps, Judith. Do you ever stop to imagine where you might be in the world and the sights you’d be see if it were possible to walk around the world? Oh, and I think you could also include the 10,002 steps on the treadmill in the hotel fitness room, or would that be “Overkill”? Got a chuckle out of that cameo.
And as always, thanks for another blog.
Keep walking, Judy! Congratulations on this milestone…yes, I remember those school days and the films, and was fascinated by the one about a man without a country. Made quite an impression on me.
A big congrats on the milestone of your steps. I didn’t realize which app on my watch/phone was tracking those. I found it the other day and was surprised at how many I walked even though I don’t actually walk anywhere. I’m hoping when I get my knee replaced in January I’ll be able to walk for real…like down the street, etc.
Thank you for another fun blog to read. As always.
The Tortoise and the Hare. Yes, that’s a fable I often think of–and sometimes tell–when I have a certain piano student who does everything quickly. His speech is rapid, he rides his bicycle at a breakneck speed, and he plays his scales so quickly that he messes up the fingering, plays the wrong keys, and, in general, misses the mark of playing steadily and correctly. Like the hare. The student who plays a little more slowly, like the tortoise, but does it smoothly, will be the one to reach the goal of getting a higher mark on his exam. Your walking is amazing–not speedy, but persistent, and the job gets done. Like the tortoise, who won the race.
Years ago I had a professor who knew a man with out a country. The man was born in Japan to a Rajah from India who was a diplomat. When India became an independent country, the father was stripped of his property and citizenship. It was o.k. for the father because he also held British citizensip, but the son didn’t. So he wasn’t an Indian, British, or Japanese. citizen.
He eventually became a Brazilian citizen. Apparently having a few million dollars eased the naturalization.
You are to be commended. That is awesome.
Amazing. A record I doubt many have the fortitude to accomplish. Congratulations!!
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Amazing. A record I doubt many have the fortitude to accomplish. Congratulations!!
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Wow! You are very active
Keep up the good work!
The Red Balloon!
Congratulations–you should be very proud of what you have done and continue to do.
Keep going and keep writing.
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Look into the mob bust during Hoover’s time. It may give you a story. We live near the house where this took place.
What an impressive accomplishment…..and you’re not done yet! Hooray for you!