Peter's Chicanery

There's something remarkable going on with my neighbor, Peter. The whole neighborhood has noticed the change and are remarking on it. My wife stops and waves at him and yells to him that he is doing great! We are suspicous but at the same time are very proud of him.

Peter has lost weight. A lot of weight.

A year ago, you would have thought he was a set up for a coronary and a life as a cardiac cripple. He works as a chef, was overweight with a full belly and skinny legs. Peter had jowls and chins. Then something happened. Peter got the 'religion' of good health. He joined the 'Cult of the Well'. Quietly, without fanfare, in the early morning or late at night, alone without an iPod or a dog to keep him company, Peter began to walk.

It took awhile for his efforts to show but he kept at it like the steadfast Tin Soldier in the children's stories. The gut went down and the legs got strong. His pants size went down from a 46 to a 34 and he became the pride of the neighborhood.

Now Peter will probably live a long healthy life without medications. His heart will be strong, his bones and back will last longer and he will enjoy a lower risk of depression. He will sleep soundly at night and worry less.

Peter walks five miles a day. He walks fast and with purpose, not talking or strolling. It takes him an hour to walk all that way but that hour a day has given him an entirely new life, almost a brand new body and his guardian angel has dealt him a completely new hand from the one he was forced to live with when he was overweight and out of shape.

We are all proud of our neighbor and when we see him on the road we always wave and point him out to our kids. Peter looks up and waves quickly but then lowers his head and focuses on his walking. He has a job to do and he does it as though his life depended on it.

Every day.

chicanery def.
1 : deception by artful subterfuge or sophistry

2 : a piece of sharp practice (as at law)