What is one to do?

A kerosene lantern like the one we used to carry out to milk the cows in the winter

On January 23rd we were to play our first winter league tennis match.  About 20 minutes before the start, when our opponent was almost here,  the rains came and our match was washed out.  I have been trying to schedule a make up for over a month.  Our first make up was again rained out last Wednesday.   Finally, after an almost threat, I was able to get them to agree to a Friday, March 3rd match.  Now what do I find out?  Three of my seven top tier players will not be available and the top of the lower tier players is not available also!!!  This match is for the league lead BUT we do play them again March 13th so we will see what happens.  We play the cellar dwellers Monday and I decided to put out my best line up and IF our Friday opponent could be so kind as to lose on Monday things may not be so dire but of course we have to win our matches on Monday and for sure anything can happen.
Most of the time on weekends I do not play tennis and for that reason I often have time to reflect on life, past/present and future.  The lantern brought back memories.  Taking it off the hook in our entry way, lighting the wick and walking through the snow to the barn.  Opening the door, the aroma of alfalfa hay and cows would greet me.  As I walked past the hay barn door and along the row of stanchions where the cows were I would see maybe one cat or none.  I would hang the light on a nail behind the cows, get the milking stool and put the kickers on the first cow.  I would not have to be concerned about cleaning the udder or teats because they were cleaned the night before and the cows had enjoyed a somewhat warm cozy night in the barn.  Sometimes I would end up sitting in front of one of the broken panes of glass in a window so there would be a cold winter breeze mixed with the barn aroma.  As the first squirts of milk hit the bottom of the milk pail MANY beady cat eyes would appear in the shadows.  For the first few minutes there would be one squirt in the pail and one squirt to an open mouth.  After that it was all pail.  We milked short horn cows so the milk production was not great.  When the last cow was milked and the pail was full, or perhaps 2 pails, I would head out but not before pouring the cat dish full.  As I opened the barn door to leave the aroma, the warmth, the atmosphere seemed to follow me like a good friend, not wanting me to leave but understanding it was time.
But here I sit in a warm home in wonderful weather.  The cream I put in my coffee came off the shelf of the grocery store, not from the cream separator in the entry way of our little farm house.  The FP coffee that I enjoy is so different than the Folgers that Mom boiled and Dad seemed to enjoy.  The trek in the snow has been replaced by a bike ride to the tennis courts and the farm life with siblings and Mom and Dad is now a distant memory as I have a life filled with family of my own and friends that I so enjoy.
For some reason I have been sitting around too much this winter and this dicey back issue, which has been fairly good, keeps me from walking much so what happens?  I have gained some weight.  In the past I would say to myself enough is enough and in a few days I could easily shed pounds.  NOW I say the same thing and the scale shows the same thing!  So last Monday, as I looked at myself in the mirror before going to my match, the picture was less than pleasing.  So I decided I HAD to to something and presto I have lost almost 5 pounds in the last 5 days.  No need to go into detail as to how I did it but it does need to continue for another 10-15 pounds.  I have a goal I want to meet when Lent starts next Wednesday so we will see.  Self discipline has NEVER been a strong point but now that I am north of 70 perhaps I need to change my ways.  A good friend, who I play tennis with and who is from MN, went into the hospital Wednesday AM with bleeding in the head.  He is currently in ICU but I think he will fully recover.  Is it due to age, weight, exercise or something else?  What ever I would like to avoid that IF possible.  Another friend had a very severe stroke last summer and his recovery is iffy at best so I will try to take care of myself and avoid health issues to the best of my ability.
Enough reminiscing for now.  My FP is finished and I am on to some Saturday projects.  My guess is that 24 ounces of FP each morning will keep me in good health well into old age!