Jul 28 2005, 12:50 PM
Hello my fellow DGers! It has certainly been a while since I�ve been able to grace the board with a post but my thoughts and prayers have been with you one and all during my prolonged absence: Each day � whether you knew it or not � I was sending out love hugs to each and every one of my fellow disc golf fanatics � or as I like to call you: Disc Golf FanTASTICS!
I had a rather harrowing medical experience that caused me to be laid up for some time: I guess you could say I definitely saw the �white light�. It all started with a procedure I felt would make me more shapelier and aerodynamic and � I presumed - would add distance to my throws: The procedure was for my rather pronounced chest: The medical term is gynoclamastia, which is to say that my chest was getting in the way of my long languid throwing motion which had produced drives that normally topped out in 6-700 yard range.
I had tried several different harnesses and �athletic� male brassieres, but found them too constricting. As I�m sure many of you out there can attest to, there is nothing better than the feeling that comes from a �power throw� while just wearing a loose fitting and breathable halter top.
While gynoclamastia has long been a curse of the Bixby family men, I�m frankly not all that certain that I owe my condition to genes but rather my previous copious intake of gluten. From this point forward, I consider my body to be a gluten-free zone.
Anyway, post surgery, I guess I tried to do too much too soon (Attending Men�s Body Sculpting Conventions is an absolute passion of mine!), and soon I was finding myself back in the hospital with my only physical outlet being the sponge bath I received daily from a dear orderly who � while very caring � had the roughest, chapped hands I have ever seen except for a longshoreman I had spent time with some years previous� Let me tell you, it�s at times such as this, that you really find out how precious a good support system is: The dear chaps who were part of my regular foursome were there for me with their support as were members of my crocheting club, as well as the all-male square dancing club I had recently become a fan of. These caring folks made sure that my comfort and peace of mind were assured during my hour of need. They made certain that my hospital room was made up like my bedroom at home: My porcelain kitty collection was at my right. A basket filled with gluten free crackers sat at my left within easy reach and I was able to while away the days recuperating whilst watching a boxed set of my absolute favorite TV show: Man from Atlantis.
I have had ample time since my debilitating ailment to reflect on what life is all about and I believe I�ve come up with a life philosophy that we can all embrace: People: It�s about love. It�s about the love we share for our beloved game of disc golf. It�s about the love we have for one another as fellow sportsmen. It�s about the pure, unbridled love we can all share for the perfectly placed drive on a tight fairway, followed by a long, comfortable celebratory hug with a playing partner. It�s about the love you feel when the sun shines down on you and your partner as you enjoy a post-match repast of wine spritzers and gluten-free snacks on a gingham blanket you found while antiquing with your life partner.
For those I�ve played with: Thank you for the pleasure and I love you. For those I have yet to play with: I look forward to it and remember: A breath mint, a bath, and a lack of copious amounts of body hair are a precious sight to behold!
I had a rather harrowing medical experience that caused me to be laid up for some time: I guess you could say I definitely saw the �white light�. It all started with a procedure I felt would make me more shapelier and aerodynamic and � I presumed - would add distance to my throws: The procedure was for my rather pronounced chest: The medical term is gynoclamastia, which is to say that my chest was getting in the way of my long languid throwing motion which had produced drives that normally topped out in 6-700 yard range.
I had tried several different harnesses and �athletic� male brassieres, but found them too constricting. As I�m sure many of you out there can attest to, there is nothing better than the feeling that comes from a �power throw� while just wearing a loose fitting and breathable halter top.
While gynoclamastia has long been a curse of the Bixby family men, I�m frankly not all that certain that I owe my condition to genes but rather my previous copious intake of gluten. From this point forward, I consider my body to be a gluten-free zone.
Anyway, post surgery, I guess I tried to do too much too soon (Attending Men�s Body Sculpting Conventions is an absolute passion of mine!), and soon I was finding myself back in the hospital with my only physical outlet being the sponge bath I received daily from a dear orderly who � while very caring � had the roughest, chapped hands I have ever seen except for a longshoreman I had spent time with some years previous� Let me tell you, it�s at times such as this, that you really find out how precious a good support system is: The dear chaps who were part of my regular foursome were there for me with their support as were members of my crocheting club, as well as the all-male square dancing club I had recently become a fan of. These caring folks made sure that my comfort and peace of mind were assured during my hour of need. They made certain that my hospital room was made up like my bedroom at home: My porcelain kitty collection was at my right. A basket filled with gluten free crackers sat at my left within easy reach and I was able to while away the days recuperating whilst watching a boxed set of my absolute favorite TV show: Man from Atlantis.
I have had ample time since my debilitating ailment to reflect on what life is all about and I believe I�ve come up with a life philosophy that we can all embrace: People: It�s about love. It�s about the love we share for our beloved game of disc golf. It�s about the love we have for one another as fellow sportsmen. It�s about the pure, unbridled love we can all share for the perfectly placed drive on a tight fairway, followed by a long, comfortable celebratory hug with a playing partner. It�s about the love you feel when the sun shines down on you and your partner as you enjoy a post-match repast of wine spritzers and gluten-free snacks on a gingham blanket you found while antiquing with your life partner.
For those I�ve played with: Thank you for the pleasure and I love you. For those I have yet to play with: I look forward to it and remember: A breath mint, a bath, and a lack of copious amounts of body hair are a precious sight to behold!