Pushing home stretch

Col PS Sangha (Retd )

HOME stretch’ is a term used to describe the last portion of a race. In a racecourse, it refers to the last 300 metres when the horses come around the final bend. In an athletics meet, it refers to the last 100 metres as the runners come around the final bend. In the home stretch, jockeys whip their mounts to get the best out of them and the poor horses gallop to the finish line. So also the athletes, who go all-out in the home stretch to win. In all such races, participants look forward to crossing the finish line to put an end to their ordeal. 

There is a home stretch in our lives too. The longevity factor varies from country to country. In India it is now around 70 years which is not bad. But after this, the home stretch starts. How long this lasts again differs, but people start thinking of the finish line. Unlike the horses and athletes who go into top gear at this stage, things start slowing down for most of us. No running up the stairs, no more jogging, no slugging drinks at the bar. Aches and pains develop in various parts, the body gets stiff; one gets religious, becomes forgetful, repeats stories and fusses — some symptoms of life in the home stretch. Unlike horses, humans look at the impending finish line with anxiety and fear. However slow their pace maybe, they do not want to cross it. Many spend their home stretch lying in bed, having a humungous diet of pills. That is human nature: the race must go on even if you are no longer an active participant.

I have been in the home stretch for a couple of years and the symptoms are evident. I decided to do something to make it a bit better. We recently moved to a more modern and bigger apartment in Gurgaon. The builder had given a pretty liveable apartment, but I thought the home stretch should be in a better place. So, new paint work, remodelling of the kitchen, fancy lights and other such measures were put in place. My wife, ever watchful of the budget, thought about moving the furniture and modifying the curtains. A few years ago, I too would have been in the same frame of mind. But not now — we deserved better in the home stretch of life. Expensive and stylish new furniture, expensive new curtains, a new refrigerator, new smart TV sets, a big washing machine and a dishwasher were bought. Finally, the new apartment was ready and we moved in. The final touch was an automatic drive SUV, although I had a perfectly good sedan. 

The old house in Delhi, where we had lived for the past 27 years, has been kept in original condition. We now have a city home and a country house which is a good way to live out the home stretch. It has been a month since the new home stretch started and we have spent an equal number of days in both homes. So far, it has been a tough go as shifting house is not easy, but we are hoping that our journey gets smoother. However, it has been a good experience to splurge the hard-earned money on ourselves.