chag sameach

Last night was the first seder. I hadn't seen a couple in 2-1/2 years and the woman - in her 60s - looked fabulous. Tell me what you do. She began running 15 years ago after she felt her body changing, she explained. She runs 6/mph (much faster than me, I noted), 3 days a week for 35 minutes. She controls her eating. Her husband, I could see, was a vegetarian and bikes 3 times a week. Gimky, the studies show that if you can get aerobic exercise 3 times a week, that's pretty good. I admire this couple. They are engaged and interested in all that's around them. They respect eachother and know how to listen. They are emotionally available and just the nicest people. How many enduring (and loving) marriages do any of us really see these days? Instead of the requisite 4 glasses of wine at a Passover meal, I had 1, last night. I had a bite of brisquet and another bite of the chicken, but otherwise ate all vegetables. Passed on dessert. Slept well because I hadn't over eaten or had too much to drink, slept in, and then got up and ran 2-1/2 miles first thing. Not too far and not too fast, but again, the very fact that I could do it and actually did do it is unreal for me. The thing about coming to the Passover table every year, is that you see people you don't see everyday. And one thing I realize is, even the nicest clothes cannot adequately disguise when you've let yourself go. The husband told me. Gimky, I must admit I am pretty surprised that you could just start running like that out of nowhere. I know, Bertie! I laughed, I seriously shock myself everyday. Day 12.