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Maintenance,
An Unlikely Comparison The other day I went to the doctor for my three year “annual” check up. I was scheduled for lab work early in the morning and the doctor’s visit just before lunch. This was done with special planning. I could do the fasting before the lab and after the lab work I could go to IHOP for breakfast. Everyone knows how important a good breakfast is. I could then go to my doctor’s appointment which would last until noon and just have to stay and eat lunch. Pretty much planned the trip around eating. Now the “rest of the story”. The lab work went well, I did not pass out when they stuck me and I hit the cup. Breakfast was good. Then comes the doctor’s office. I arrived early and did the required thirty minute wait in the waiting area, then was moved to the next waiting area called the exam room. The nurse took me back and motioned toward the scale. She did not wait for me to clear my pockets and as she moved the little weight further up the bar I began to rethink that big breakfast. She sat me on the exam table and took my blood pressure. As she was releasing the pressure off the cuff her eyes grew wide and said “Oh my”. She asked me if I had checked my blood pressure lately and I said not really. To say the least it was not good. She left and said the doctor will be in shortly. I sat there for what seemed a long time but maybe they were waiting for the blood pressure to go back down. Long story short I was reminded of the dangers of high blood pressure, being overweight and not taking care of one’s self. I could either change, or risk death. Since losing my Dad in April to a heart attack it hit home. I had to change. Driving home after a not so great lunch I was watching the countryside go by and thinking about what I needed to do both health wise and at work. I mentioned in a previous article I can’t help but look at erosion problems as I travel and wonder how I could help. I began to see a correlation between health of the body and the health of the land. Both “bodies” need regular maintenance to keep them in prime shape. An overweight body cannot function properly and has to work harder to produce. In many instances it cannot produce as much as it could. Crops grown year after year without good fertility will not produce to their potential so a good fertility program is needed just like a healthy diet is needed for the body. Diversion terraces, waterways and creeks in general are designed to carry water and when left alone can grow up with brush and trees impeding the flow of water. Our arteries when clogged from too much cholesterol will block the flow of blood and I don’t really need to explain that thought. Not enough exercise will let the muscles get weak and not keeping your terraces plowed up will allow them to get weak and burst from a heavy rain. The overgrazing of the rangeland will leave nothing but weeds and poor grass which produce low quality forage for the livestock, while constant grazing of ourselves produces a body that is of poor quality. The comparisons could go on, but you get the drift. It takes constant vigilance and maintenance to keep us and the land in good shape. God gave us both and it’s up to us to be sure to do what’s best to keep these gifts in top condition. So until next time if you need assistance please call or come . USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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