Session # 18 April 17, 2005 D-DAY
I arose at about 5am this
morning trying not to think too much about what lies ahead for me on this
important date I went to bed last night at 9 and got up and 11pm to meditate
and then watched a little of Saturday Night Live with laughter. This morning, I
weighed myself and felt good with 182.8 on the digital scale, the lowest weight
for me in years, perhaps two decades at least. I have been successful in my
daily dieting and will share that information in this book. �My blood pressure registered at 131/70 and
heart rate at 72 without medication and/or food except for a few cups of
coffee. Caffeine can do wonders, I suppose. My blood pressure was 148/76 and
heart rate at 75 upon immediately arising this morning, but maybe the mixed
feelings about today caused a slightly higher than normal reading for me at
that time. After getting some basic chores done and a lower than expected blood
pressure reading produced the better results than I had expected. Also, it�s
been ten years since I officially competed in a USA Wrestling Federation Open
Freestyle wrestling tournament, so I am anxious to get it on now once again.
I have support from my
trainers and coaches Ryan Adamonis and Vito Flammia.
Both Ryan and Vito will
guide me throughout the day, as I make medical history on the mat. I am
indebted to them as my mentors in life.�
I know that youth and age can make a difference in life. And, our team
proves that beyond a reasonable doubt.
I am beginning anew today.
Each day is a new day in anyone�s life.�
But, today has special meaning for me in many ways. When adding today�s
date in terms of numbers (4 plus 17 plus 2005) it equals 2026. And, when adding
those numbers together (2 plus 0 plus 2 plus 6), it equals 10, or 1/0 which is
the starting point for me, as in two weeks, I will be 59 and one/half, just
half a year from 60, a major landmark in my life.
I feel spiritual today and
walk with Jesus, God and Holy Spirit. �I
know that wrestling is a physical, mental and spiritual event for me in life.
My new body has produced a new zest for living in all aspects of daily routines
including but not limited to sexuality. I am amazed at my new found �fountain
of youth� in life.
I have awakened to a new
dawn in my life following today�s wrestling event. God protected me and helped
me to achieve the unimaginable, winning my first medal in freestyle wrestling.
When I was weighed in, the
official digit scale registered me at 182.9, but there was a 1/10 lb. error
meaning my early morning digital scale reading of 182.2 was correct and I felt
great.
However, there was no
competitor for me in the 185 weight class.�
And, Coach Ryan, who weighed in at 230 and I were ready to do an exhibition
match during the tournament.� However,
one of the on-site referees who weighed in at 192 agreed to wrestle as part of
a round robin wrestling event. Thus, I was in the heavy weight class.
My first match was with
Coach Ryan and I felt great as it was the best way for me to break into
freestyle wrestling competition as a cardiac patient. �I was making medical history.
As I strolled onto the mat
and took off my top sweat shirt and shorts and adjusted my knee pads and
entered the center, Coach Ryan said my singlet scared him
which had a fiery scull and
bones across it. �I laughed and felt
ready for action.
With the referee�s signal to
wrestle, I pranced around the center of the mat waiting for Coach Ryan�s first
move against me, and he quickly took me down, but I did what I was suppose to
do and hold firm for 15 seconds until the referee
had us go back to neutral
position.
Again, Coach Ryan took me
down and foolishly I locked legs with him giving him an advantage to move me
onto my back for point advantage which led to myself being pinned and match was
over.� But, I felt great. History. �I walked onto the mat and now off in one piece
and felt I accomplished the best feat in my life to this day.
It was great wrestling with
Coach Ryan and it was captured on tape for me to use at my website and future
as well.
As I waited for my next
match, I had a great time talking with Coach Ryan�s family and sharing personal
experiences about living.� It was a great
Top rated middle school and
high school wrestlers grappled for first, second and third place.� Although there weren�t as many wrestlers in
the open division, it was the first year for the 18 year old and older wrestler
to compete in a sanctioned USA Wrestling Federation freestyle wrestling
event.�
My time had come. I was
called to the mat to meet my other contender for a match.� As I again prepared for the mat, I felt a
need to ask God to help me. I spiritual knew my opponent wasn�t in a positive
person and my instinct proved me right.
Coach Ryan had warned me
that my opponent was top rated from his knowledge about him.� And, I was in for a surprise too.
As I braced myself on the
mat following the referee�s call to wrestle, my opponent went for a takedown
and again I did what I was suppose to do on the bottom position, but found
myself being readied for a 5point gut wrench lift that would take be airborne
and onto my back like a slam dunk.
As soon as I hit the mat, I
knew it was over. I felt bad and called the match over.
A trainer was summoned over
to check me and found that I was okay although I could have traumatized my
lower back muscles from the impact of my mat hit.
After viewing the video, I
saw that I hit the mat with my upper back which didn�t bother me, but my lower
back was in pain. I was fine upper body, but hurting lower back.
Coach Ryan�s girlfriend iced
my lower back and a family member placed a Ben Gay patch on it.
Now, it was Coach Ryan�s
turn to fight my opponent and their match went the full course.� It was tough and intense.� And, I thought how fortunate I was to have
escaped a more serious physical predicament with the questionable wrestler.
I perceived a dark side of
him, but I will leave that to the Lord.
While Coach Ryan made
remarkable attempts to control his battle with the former
What an accomplishment!
Yes, I was outranked in
wrestling experience and outclassed in weight too, but I made a difference by
facing my opponents with the spirit of the day. It was an eventful D-Day for
me.� I was so happy I was singing
everyone�s praises and in the high school shower too.
I remember how I feared
getting on the mat when I was in high school during gym class, and that my
teacher then didn�t force me. That was four decades ago at
Just now the power went off
in my home for less than a minute proving beyond a reasonable doubt that there
is divine intervention and reaffirmation to what I wrote about April 17, 2005,
a personal tribute to a very special D-Day my life.
Say your prayers. And,
believe in yourself with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Postscript. Vito Flammia wasn�t able
to compete due to an upper respiratory infection. He was at tournament to
support Coach Ryan and I, nonetheless.
Thank-you
Vito.