THE JUICEMAN COMETH!

Let me tell you about my dear old dad.  He's sorta unique.  He doesn't really remind me of anyone else's father and he certainly does not fit the image of the sometimes popular beer drinking, TV watching, couch-potato, American-dad icons like Al Bundy and Homer Simpson.  In fact, he's a man who walks to the beat of a different drum.  LOL.  He always reminded me more of the "juiceman," albeit a better-looking version.  When other men his age were enjoying an icy cold beer in front of a football game, my dad was off juicing things with my mother screaming in the background, "stop using all the produce, it's expensive damn it!" 

Growing up, I have many memories of his crazy behaviors.  You see, unlike me, he has NEVER had a weight problem, nor has he ever been sensitive to anyone who does.  My dad has always been a ridiculously active man.  He would jog in our neighborhood and spend the last half mile or so running backwards so he could build up the back of his legs.  Imagine sitting on the school bus as a child and seeing your dad run backwards past your bus stop?!  The other kids used to turn to me and say, "Jennifer, isn't that your dad out there?"  I'd reply, "unfortunately, yes."  "What is he doing?!" "Running."  "Well why is he doing it backwards?!?"  You have to realize, back in the day, jogging wasn't nearly as prevalent as it is today, and running backwards I think still remains a bit uncommon...LOL.

My father never belonged to a gym, never attended an exercise class, and has never been on a diet.  But he has for as long as I can remember always been in phenomenal shape.  He used to always say to me, "you got to work it in to your lifestyle!"  Meaning, exercise is something you should seek throughout the day and be welcoming of every opportunity.  When I see school-aged children out of breath after climbing one flight of stairs, I realize just how right he is.  I remember he would disappear on his way to get the mail.  Ten minutes later you would find him doing push-ups off the deck steps on his way back from the mailbox.  Considering we had a next-door neighbor who used to ride his lawn tractor to the mailbox- that's quite a difference in dads.  Dad almost always ate standing up, he never paid a serviceman to do a job he thought he could do, and come hell or high water he'd sooner die than demonstrate any kind of weakness.

My dad will turn seventy this May.  He still runs four miles a day, though last I had checked he had abandoned the running backwards deal.  He rides his bicycle to work every day and still sucks down a hell of a lot of produce.  Last year he performed his own tree trimming service, pulling himself up a fifty-foot tree with a chainsaw strapped to his back.  I guess you would say he's taught me a lot about how to remain fit in this world.  I never fight for a front-row parking space, I always take the stairs, and like good ole' dad, I believe if you want something done right, you best do it yourself!

I spent an hour shoveling snow Wednesday.  Yes it'd be nice to have a snow blower, I feel the same about having a lawn tractor, but you know there is nothing wrong with getting out there and doing some manual exercise!  It has been two days and my forearms still ache from heaving snow over my shoulder.  People deteriorate because they stop doing.  Why do I think my dad is still able to do the things he does at 70??  Because he never stopped dong them!  Modern convenience is not always the answer and going to the gym isn't always enough.  Working additional exercise in to your day can somethings be the difference between staying healthy and strong, versus prematurely aging.  I'm pretty sure we'll lose my father in some unconventional way.  Every time he gets on the roof or climbs a tree, I remind my mother that it is a good idea to up the life insurance.  Still, he continues to live a very healthy and active lifestyle doing lots of things at his age that many can't do at half that age.  He takes no medications, and to date, suffers no ailments.

I know despite my present condition, I still have a lot of my dad in me.  Did I mention I've been thinking about buying one of those juice contraptions??  LOL.  If you want some insight into how I see my father, watch the video below.  It's ironic how my dad, like the juicemean, is also intensely religious.  Juiceman Video  If you want an even bigger laugh, watch Jim Carrey's re-enactments. The video takes some time to load but is well worth it!! Jim Carrey Video

"Get the led out!" -my dad