Hazards to Your Health

As we sat in the cart waiting for our turn to tee off, she said to me: I have decided to focus all my (athletic) attention on golf. My profession relies much too heavily on my specialized (manual )skills and physical mobility—I simply cannot afford to get hurt---And golf, as opposed to tennis or platform tennis, is a very safe sport.

I was in total agreement with her until 4 holes hence when I witnessed this same woman so completely  wiff a golf ball imbedded in a sad trap that she rose about a  foot up into the air like a cartoon character and then landed squarely on her buttocks.

Part of the reason the doctor prescribed walking instead of hardcore physical therapy for me was that it was his belief that walking was/ is the best exercise a person can do. The joints, heart, and musculature all receive a balanced workout. And the added benefit is that walking is easy to do, low cost and safe.

And I believed him on all counts---that is until I actually began walking.

Because I routinely trip on raised (or not raised) sidewalks. I have nearly been hit by people racing out of their driveways in their cars. I have nearly been hit by people in their cars who wave me on to walk and then change their minds midway. And my own distraction has lead me to whack my head on tree branches as well as nearly fall flat by accidentally stepping in unmarked wet cement.

Walking can be hazardous to your health.

Walking is not safe.

And after overcoming my momentary paralysis at witnessing a 5’ 7 woman soar upward gripping a hard swung 9 iron and landing with splayed sand which eventually compacted itself into every crevice of her body,  I ran over to see if she was okay.

She was—just her ego was bruised.

And the first words out of her mouth after assessing the peculiarity of the aforementioned event  were Who knew golf could be so dangerous?