Never Stop the Struggle
BY DAVE GLASGOW
A COUPLE OF GUYS IN THE OFFICE WERE TALKING ABOUT RUNNING AND THEIR PARTICULAR PHILOSOPHIES TOWARD IT. IN THE CONVERSATION, SOMEONE MENTIONED THE ‘RUNNER’S HIGH’. “IF THERE IS SUCH A THING,” HE SAID,’ I SURE THE HELL HAVE’NT EXPERIENCED IT!” SOMEONE ELSE SAID, ‘WELL, I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO BEAT THE HANDICAPPED KID WHEN I GO TO A RACE.’ THAT, IMMEDIATELY, MADE ME THINK OF A KID MY SON’S AGE FROM OUR TOWN.
I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS A PHARMACIST. HIS SON WAS BORN WITH CP (CEREBERAL PALSY). HIS SPEECH PATTERN AND HIS PHYSICAL MOBILITY ARE SEVERLY IMPAIRED. THE KID HAS HAD MORE SURGERIES THAN MOST OF US HAVE HAD BIRTHDAYS. THE MERE FACT THAT HE CAN EVEN WALK IS DUE TO THE MIRICLE OF MODERN TECHNIQUES AND SURGERIES. THE ONE THING THAT THIS CHALLENGE DID NOT TAKE FROM HIM WAS HIS HEART AND DESIRE.
WHEN HE WAS JUST A LITTLE GUY, HE WANTED TO WRESTLE WITH THE YOUTH WRESTLING CLUB. HIS FOLKS FIGURED WHY NOT. HE ATTENDED EVERY PRACTICE, MOST OF THE TOURNIMENTS AND WAS ALWAYS READY TO GO. HE NEVER WON A MATCH. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, HE NEVER SCORED A POINT. THAT DID’NT SET HIM BACK ONE BIT. HE JUST KEPT COMING BACK FOR MORE. WHEN HE REACHED HIGH SCHOOL AGE, HE RAN CROSS COUNTRY. IT WAS PAINFUL TO WATCH.
HE WOULD RUN IN THE MORNING AND AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, SOMEONE WOULD CALL THE POLICE AND TELL THEM THAT ONE OF THE KIDS FROM THE HOME (WE HAVE SEVERAL HOMES IN TOWN THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR MENTALLY RETARTED FOLKS) WAS RUNNING AWAY. NO, THEY WERE TOLD, THAT’S JUST NEAL(NOT HIS REAL NAME), OUT TRAINING. HE WOULD FINISH LONG AFTER THE REST WERE LONG SINCE DONE. HOWEVER, I’LL BE DAMNED IF HE EVER QUIT! HE STRUGGLED ON AND I AM SURE SOME FOLKS CAME OUT JUST TO SEE HIM RUN.
TO MY MIND, NEAL NEVER LOST A MATCH OR A RACE. HE WON THE SECOND THE WHISTLE BLEW. JUST GETTING THERE WAS A STRUGGLE AND A VICTORY. ENJOY YOUR NEXT WORKOUT. THINK OF NEAL. IT WILL PROBABLY HELP YOU WORK A LITTLE HARDER.
YOU MAY LIKE THIS POEM: http://www.frtommylane.com/stories/cross/dont_quit.htm
*** EPILOGUE: NEAL IS NOW A SUCCESSFUL ATTORNEY OUT OF STATE. HE ADVOCATES FOR FOLKS WITH DISABILITES.