By Steve Stricker

Columnist

Tomorrow is Halloween.  As a huge introvert and “surfeit” of other stuff – I hate Halloween! Lights out. 

This past week, ongoing health crap and major computer issues brought back from the dead after hours of stressful work, by experience with this program and St. Joseph – whew!! 

Spook Day tomorrow is also Nuclear Treadmill Test Day at the Stern Cardiovascular Center, 7:40 am, a result of my Echo thingy on Monday, October 14 which revealed a 25% EF – convinced it’s because I’m out of shape cardio-wise yet feel great!  

Out of shape for the first time in my life because of Covid shutdown, “germ’d” out of my walking routine, winded after a wee walk.  Flash back to high school basketball, new season, getting in shape by running laps in gym, high school stairs, is paying dividends now because I know my body and that feeling of being out of shape.  Seemed my lungs were going to burst, hurting, breathing difficult – then, suddenly, “something” broke free, could breathe, easily, effortlessly, and felt I could run forever. 

Knowing I have to get my wind back for this treadmill ordeal, been pushing myself, walking a lot more and riding my exercise bike last week, that same difficult breathing, and then, bam – “something” broke loose and I could breathe easily! Regular walking no problem returned.   

I laid a lot of personal health issues on y’all last column (sorry) with not enough word allotment to explain the positives. 

Scottish fiance and I were way unequally yoked, would never have worked, thank you God, she was moving home forever…I was home forever here in Oxford.  After vitrectomies in both eyes, “something” (Dr. Kim, Vanderbilt) broke loose causing an occlusion and loss of my right dominant eye.  “It had a 50% chance of going to your brain and killing you, “instantly.”  

High School Assistant priest, forced to also be our Basketball Coach of which he knew nothing, (shortly later left priesthood to marry) made us “duck-waddle” up and down the court, eventually blowing out my knees and both hips.  Left knee surgery in early 1990 and both hips replaced in 2011 was wonderful and I could walk again. 

Much stomach issues, gall bladder removal resolved all that…. 

Prolonged dizziness was finally caught at three-month regular checkups with GP and pacemaker saved my life! 

This EF stuff got my attention, fixed blown ACL in early 90’s left knee hurting is my precursor that I’m not walking enough, gone, I know how to get in shape and feel better already. 

Eye pressure is the lowest it’s ever been, vision okay, but because it was my dominant eye that the occlusion occurred, gun eye, my depth of perception is way off – but I’m alive, it works just fine. Plus, I researched every med and supplement I’m on, dumped a bunch because of negative side effects, and am feeling better than I have in years!! 

Before you write me off as a lost cause, what about you?  You could have “whatever” tomorrow and I’m planning to at least me around as long as Gert – 95, if not more! 

PS:  Love my life, daily Mass, church family, really miss Fr. Joe, all my projects, cars, wonderful house and location, how God uses me to help others, and I feel – Great!   What else…GO REBELS!!! 

Steve is an Oxford resident, worked on Campus, received his Ph.D. in Counseling from Ole Miss. JMJ