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The Last Mile
Apr. 28th, 2009 01:00 pmMy aunt and uncle are aging. This year may be the last time my uncle still owns a helicopter when we visit them.
My uncle offers rides to anyone who wishes. He weighs them and makes them sign a waver. Yes, even relatives. There is a weight limit... which my husband has always been over. This has disappointed my husband tremendously, as my uncle has inspired T's desire to be a helicopter pilot with own his own helicopter someday.
So this past January when we arranged our plane tickets to Florida, T decided that he wanted to grab this last chance to get a ride in a helicopter. And... he was willing to do Whatever It Took. Seriously.
Whew!
And it has been inspiring. Weekly weighing on the Wii Fit. He cut back on carbs. He cut out almost all sweets. No more sodas. Every morning at an AMAZINGLY early hour, we go to the gym. And I mean EVERY MORNING, no matter what sort of exercise is happening later in the day. I walk stairs or elliptical. He swims. At first it was 9 laps, then 12... Now he is up to at least 18 laps in his allotted 23 minutes. On weekends when he has more time, he swims until he is too tired. The first time he pulled that, I almost sent a gym person in to find him. I got worried at 45 minutes and panicked at 50. I was afraid he was on the bottom of the pool.
But this past Sunday... it was 39 laps (over a mile), and T weighed in at 0.5 lbs under the limit set by my uncle. Assuming he continues to lose a bit more this week, he may even be able to wear clothes in the helicopter!
Now, it all depends on the wind. If the wind is too strong, or from the wrong direction, T won't get his flight. Send positive wind thoughts this coming weekend!
My uncle offers rides to anyone who wishes. He weighs them and makes them sign a waver. Yes, even relatives. There is a weight limit... which my husband has always been over. This has disappointed my husband tremendously, as my uncle has inspired T's desire to be a helicopter pilot with own his own helicopter someday.
So this past January when we arranged our plane tickets to Florida, T decided that he wanted to grab this last chance to get a ride in a helicopter. And... he was willing to do Whatever It Took. Seriously.
Whew!
And it has been inspiring. Weekly weighing on the Wii Fit. He cut back on carbs. He cut out almost all sweets. No more sodas. Every morning at an AMAZINGLY early hour, we go to the gym. And I mean EVERY MORNING, no matter what sort of exercise is happening later in the day. I walk stairs or elliptical. He swims. At first it was 9 laps, then 12... Now he is up to at least 18 laps in his allotted 23 minutes. On weekends when he has more time, he swims until he is too tired. The first time he pulled that, I almost sent a gym person in to find him. I got worried at 45 minutes and panicked at 50. I was afraid he was on the bottom of the pool.
But this past Sunday... it was 39 laps (over a mile), and T weighed in at 0.5 lbs under the limit set by my uncle. Assuming he continues to lose a bit more this week, he may even be able to wear clothes in the helicopter!
Now, it all depends on the wind. If the wind is too strong, or from the wrong direction, T won't get his flight. Send positive wind thoughts this coming weekend!
