There is nothing to fear but fear itself....and zombies...

“He who is not every day conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet

 

The smile:

I moved to Memphis after I left the Army. I began taking classes at University of Memphis and shared an apartment with three friends from high school. All of us were trying to get through school and we were flat broke. We lived in one of the highest crime areas of the city and violent crimes happened every day around us. I took a little solace that a hospital was directly across the street from our building.

We each put in money for groceries one day. I was chosen to go get the food. I shopped conservatively and tried to get food that would be cheap, easy to fix and keep for a while. I tossed the grocery bags in the back seat of my roommate’s car that I had borrowed and headed home.  I immediately discovered his air conditioner was on the fritz again and only blew hot air. I tried to roll down the window and the handle came off in my hand. “Jeez, “I thought, “I only have a couple miles to go. I can make it.”

It took seconds to begin sweating in the Memphis summer heat. It ran down the back of my neck and my shirt stuck to my chest. I would be drenched before I got back to the apartment. I made it to the street between the hospital and building when I heard a loud POP. I swerved, ducked and glanced around for the source of the sound. That was the moment I felt the sticky ooze that came from the back of my head. I’d been shot. I knew it. I couldn’t believe I had been dumb enough to live in this area. I had gone through all of my military training for what? Just to be another statistic on the streets of this hood?

I quickly made a choice and pulled into the emergency drive on the hospital. I shoveled the car into park and left the motor running as I got out and stumbled through the sliding glass doors. Two neatly dressed nurses sat at the emergency room desk and looked shocked as I made my way to them. I knew I didn’t have long before I would lose consciousness. I felt weak and disoriented. My mouth was dry as I opened it and told them “I’ve been shot. Help me”

They jumped to their feet and came around the desk. The first to my side inspected the back of my head and gave me the bad news, “Sir, it appears you have been assaulted by a can of biscuits.”

 

The ponder:

I fear more as I get older, which seems odd to me. Simple things as love, respect, health and friendship have always been important. Now they each signify a pillar to what makes me a complete person and loss of even a little of one makes me reflect. What do you fear losing?

The Fudonshin Challenge:

I did my 100 push-ups this morning. Sensei and I weight trained yesterday on chest. Today is biceps, triceps and abs followed by 3 hours of kenpo karate. Come join us if you are local to West TN at the Fudoshinka Dojo.