I have to laugh when I hear John telling me not to "overdo it" as I go out to tackle the gardens here at Struan Farm. Sometimes my eyes roll heavenward involuntarily too. I know he says this because he cares. He doesn't want me to exhaust myself, particularly on hot summer days. But realistically that's what the situation requires sometimes, in fact most of the time.
I've confessed to John that I get more work done when he isn't around monitoring me with glasses of water and enforced rest breaks. When I'm on my own I do stop for water and meals, but I also tend to go over the edge and collapse in a heap at the end of the day. Which is fine. Physical exhaustion is sometimes a positive state, especially when you can see the results of what you've accomplished. It's also great for deep sleep.
The roles do reverse, the shoe can be on the other foot. Mister Bad-Back-Bad-Knee goes off spraying blackberry on the hillsides, reporting to his concerned wife "he's fine, just fine." Until the middle of the night when he gets up to pop two Advils. Every night for a week. The chiropractor has asked me to monitor him and intervene as required. Yea, right.
Seems it's easier to worry about someone else overdoing it than yourself. Funny that.
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