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For years I have kept a small mental file on ironic health related events. Things like a 36-year-old jogger out for a morning run hit by a bakery truck. A friend of mine who wrenched her back so bad she was laid up for two weeks while trying to get off her exercise bike, and numerous falls, shin splints and knee sprains of people I know who are out walking.
I didn’t know the jogger who got hit; I just came across that one on the internet. But I think it is really ironic when people who are trying to take care of their bodies are instead hurting themselves. Maybe we are all safer just sitting in our comfy chairs with the television on until the spring thaw.
Following up on health issues, I think it is ironic that people on their way to the gym will drive around and around looking for the closest parking spot to go work out. Now isn’t the workout the point? Why not just walk in the first place? I know that if you live miles away that just wouldn’t work out, especially if you go to the gym before or after work, but come on, you can walk the few extra feet from a parking space down the street a bit.
If I exercise before work, I park in the lot, but if I go during lunch I walk the three blocks. Now that I have spouted off, I will probably twist my ankle on the way there and be a victim of my own ironic comments.
The other day I decided to go to Wal-Mart. I needed a few items that are only available there locally. I noticed that the lot was pretty full and there were lots of cars with Wisconsin plates in the lot, so people are coming in from outside the city to shop here. But what I thought was ironic was that I saw a woman driving a Hummer. It was a huge Hummer, not just a jeep type, but the size of a cargo van, wide, huge and black. The type what would scare you if it was parked on the street with the motor running? She was driving around looking for the closest stall to the door that her big beast of a machine could fit into without taking out the vehicles on both sides. I watched her circle the lot twice and wondered why she was shopping at Wal-Mart. The laps she made probably used up more gas than she would save by going into the store.
I think it is ironic that if you can afford a vehicle like that you would even consider shopping at Wal-Mart. But come to think of it, on any given day there are several Cadillacs somewhere in the lot. Maybe it is so they can buy the gas.
People are really trying to be more aware of the concept of going “green.” We are slowly learning to recycle, reuse and reduce. The city is making an effort of go green, and the U.S. government may finally sign some legislation and treaties that will do some good. So today at the grocery store, the simple question “Would you like paper or plastic” gave me pause. It is ironic that I have to choose between depleting the earth’s resources (trees) and contributing to the trash problem (plastic bags). One little canvas Go Green bag was not going to haul all the groceries home. The only way to make that issue work is to shop in small amounts daily, buy just what we need, and no extra. That could be good for the diets, and the recycling problem, but very hard to work into the daily routine. I hope it counts that we are more aware the problem now. Tiny baby steps.
The last ironic thing I want to talk about is the deer population. We have lived out in West Burns Valley for 25 years now and the deer herd is the same or smaller. I know I used to see eight to 12 deer nightly walking in the trees behind our house; now there are maybe three. I am strongly against an archery hunt in the city. I have lived here long enough to know I can’t have a garden, and certain plants are considered deer smorgasbord, and even bird seed is fair game for hungry deer, but it has never bothered me. They were here first, and I am sharing the land with them. What will be ironic about this is if I ever hit one while driving home. I do watch for them, but if it happens it will be right in my own driveway, and yes, that will be ironic!
Carol Borzyskowski graduated from WSHS and WSU, although there was a big gap in time between the two graduations. She lived in the Colorado Rockies for 10 years but is happy and content to remain in Winona now until the lights go out. Carol has two children, four grandchildren and is married to George Borzyskowski. She works at the Public Library and co-edits and co-produces the literary magazine Main Channel Voices.
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CT Rock wrote on Dec 31, 2007 10:53 AM: