For years, I always return to a particular park bench at Dallas Bachmann Lake to perform this exercise in balancing and endurance, averaging 5-minutes. At my age, I am happy to continue to do the same exercise I started in my early US days.

When my Sister Kuni, first visited me in Dallas from Nigeria, she bought me a shirt – a priceless gift. That was in the late 1990s. Lo and behold! Recently, I put on the same shirt and it fits just like it did when she first gave it to me. When I called her in London and told her that I still wear the shirt; she could not believe it. I still wear some clothes I wore twenty-something years ago.

When Chukwuka, my brother, visited me in 2012, he saw me wearing the same shorts I wore when I visited Nigeria in the early 1900s. He was surprised.

All these clothes are reminders. Why grow up by putting weight? I remain the same size practically and refuse to grow up – hahaha!

I gave my son one of my suits recently, and it fitted him perfectly. I said, wow! – Like father like son. I am keeping my 1987 BMW – now a Texas classic and my first luxury car in US, for my son.

When I recently told him that it is for him, he said, “Dad, that means a lot to me.”

I was touched because my dad gave me a car after high school back in Nigeria.

I do neither gym nor group exercise. I just watch what goes in my mouth, keep myself company, guard myself jealously and when the weather is perfect, ride miles on my bicycle.

We owe ourselves the duty to care for the only ONE BODY we have. It has no spare.  I run well on the one tyre I have; wear and attire fine – but it is how it wears and tears!

Ejike Okpa II

Dallas, Texas.