When do we eat?

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? In the last six months we have changed our daily schedules several times.

First, following Lester's heart surgery we were on the schedule of cardiac rehab three days a week for an hour. The first few weeks I went with him and used the machines that weren't busy while he was being monitored. Last Friday he "graduated" and got a T-shirt to prove it. He could continue for a small fee but because of our distance from town, and the necessity of having a regular time to go to the center, he decided to do his exercising at home.

We've had an exercise bicycle for more than 20 years. It got lots of use. It was a handy place to throw a jacket when we came in. It had room for two or three at once without too much crowding. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren also used it at times to pretend they were on some mission somewhere. But except for a few weeks when I got serious about exercising regularly during weather too nasty to walk outside, it merely took up a little space in our View Room.

But now it is back in business with new pedals installed to fit wider feet, and positioned in front of the TV so the morning news shows can be watched at the same time as we pedal our scheduled minutes. Of course we can't both use this at the same time, so I usually choose an afternoon session while Lester prefers the mid-morning routine. Our son and daughter-in-law from Plano, Texas, have a treadmill in their way at their home. When they come up for Christmas they are bringing that for us to use. Mark is a long distance runner who regularly runs his miles most days. Joan has a cherished dog that she walks regularly so they found they weren't using the machine.

Then we can both exercise at once and swap machines for variety. We are constantly changing our routine to meet this need for exercise.

Then there are the changes brought on by our great-granddaughter's increasing activities. She is manager of the seventh grade girls' basketball team. That calls for many trips to town to pick her up after games or to go watch the games. Since they are scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m., that also means a switch in meal times. If we eat before she gets home then she will need something after we pick her up. If we wait and all of us eat late in the evening it doesn't always sit well in our middle age plus tummies. Thank heavens for frozen entrees and microwave ovens as well as drive-through quick food places! I remember how my mother always had the evening meal right at 6 p.m.

Anyone who wasn't there at that hour would have a plate waiting in the oven or need to scrounge for himself. Actually there weren't as many evening events then, but I do remember my brothers occasionally coming home later.

Anyone with a date would set the time for later in the evening, or bring a guest for supper.

Recently many organizations meet early in the evening so that people can attend the meeting and still get home for most of the evening. I like this trend but it also leads to more juggling of schedules and meal times.

I think one of the best solutions to this problem is to tell all family members that they are on their own for food. The cook has the night off.

Maybe they can use this extra time for another session on the bike!