For the first time in memory I’ve come across a “sure fire” (WRONG! NO SUCH THING!) way to deal with the Black Dog, a/k/a depression. Meds help. But my new (three months old) “miracle” “med” is body-punishing, mind-short-circuiting exercise. I’ve been pretty consistently speed walking/aerobic walking for 16 years. Good stuff. But about three months ago I decided, for a host of reasons, to up the ante. Speed walking is now the centerpiece of my day, and I’ve increased my distance from a “good for you” level of 2.5-3.5 miles per day (less on the road) to 5-7 hilly miles (a lot in “walking world”). Particularly in the heat (90+!), it beats the living hell out of me. All other things, including that Black Dog, are erased from the system! And it sticks! I love it, I’m also doing it on the road, and I plan to turn it into an addiction! (Of course it’s also good for every other damn malady you can name—unless one pushes to sunstroke, which I almost did on Sunday along the C&O Canal Towpath in D.C.) I know this is not “news” for many of you, but it’s a big deal for me; moreover, it suggests that Old Dogs (speaking of which) can indeed learn new tricks.