JOHNSTOWN —
I had good intentions for getting off to a running start on this week’s American Heart Month package. I got up, shot out some emails to set up interviews and did some home stuff for a while. When I was ready to start work in earnest, I started scheduling interviews for Tuesday morning. Then I got an email from the boss, reminding me about Special Olympics.
“What?” I thought. “You mean there is something to cover besides heart disease?" Oh yeah, that’s right. Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games. Happens every February, same as Heart Month.
From that point on, my day went down hill, accomplishment-wise.
First I launched myself to the Planet Ice for speed skating coverage. Only by the time I picked up the video camera and got to the venue, they were done.
“But the schedule said until 4 p.m.” I said.
“We finished early.” It was barely after 1 p.m.
I did get a nice interview for a story that I’ll write for Wednesday’s paper about a blind skater and her enthusiasm for the sport.
I hope I do her justice. It is tough to convey the spirit of Special Olympics for those who have never experienced it. The challenge is to get the reader to look past the disabilities and even the obstacles that the athletes have overcome, and see the spirit of competition and sportsmanship that should serve as a model for other athletic programs.
Special Olympics is not really about competition, disabilities or even ability, I don’t think. To me, it’s about accomplishment. That’s where we can all embrace the event.
I thought I can draw on that spirit of keeping my sights on the achievements and not being discouraged by the setbacks and not making excuses as I work to improve my own heart health.
Those were my thoughts as I left the Planet and headed back downtown to The Tribune-Democrat office, grabbing a microwave entree for late lunch.
I managed to save enough lunch hour to take the long way from my Kernville parking spot – an invigorating 20-minute hike around the downtown. I was carrying my backpack with notebook, camera, spare lenses and other supplies along with the monstrous tripod. So I got more than the usual benefits, I guess.
Back in the office I had time for a few more phone calls before most of my sources would go home. Then I dove into online research about tobacco dangers and smoking cessation strategies. I’ve already done a number of interviews for the weekend’s stories, but I kept finding little tidbits to follow up on.
Before I knew it, it was suppertime … and I was ready. The 10 ounces of pasta primavera with chicken hadn’t stuck with me.
I was feeling hungry and fighting cravings all day, but I think it was psychosomatic. The needle didn’t get past the 188 line on bedroom scale this morning. It was 188 for the first time since before Thanksgiving. It is my low point, weight-wise, probably since before we moved to Johnstown in 2001.
Luckily, we stocked up on some fresh fruit over the weekend, so my snack time was healthy. And tonight’s tasty dinner of fish with rice and broccoli was a nice low-fat welcome home.
Tomorrow it’s back to Planet Ice in the morning and then off to some interviews in the afternoon for the exercise aspect of heart health.
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