It’s relaxing to spend some time with brush in hand

I’ve been getting reacquainted with an old pastime of mine: painting.

But this isn’t fine art, oh no. This is painting the house.

It began a few weeks ago as a means of getting a little early morning fresh air and exercise.

And it didn’t hurt that the exterior of my house was looking pretty long in the tooth.

In fact, in spots, it needs dentures, or at least bridgework.

But that’s beyond my humble DIY (do it yourself) capabilities and I’ll likely have to hire that done or rely on a friend less constructionally challenged than myself.

But painting, now that I can do — as long as I don’t have to climb a ladder.

Although I dropped a few dozen pounds in recent months because of my illness, I still top the scales at, well, let’s just say it’s a bunch. Much beyond the safety rating of most commercially-available ladders and scaffolding equipment.

Because of this, I’m limited to painting what I can reach. And because of the recent heat wave, I’m pretty much limited to painting only during the early morning hours, between 6 and 9 a.m.

Now, for most folks, that would mean three hours a day of painting. For me, it’s about an hour, tops.

That’s because I find it hard to get out of bed at 6 a.m. and immediately tackle my project. Instead, I want to snooze a bit more, or read a little, or play with my cats, take my meds, eat a bite, etc., etc.

So about 7:30 or 8, I find that it’s painting time. By 8:30 or so, I find it too hot to continue, and I tire a little easier than I used to. I guess I’m still recovering. So I head on inside for a shower, a little more reading, a chat with Phyllis and to watch “My Name is Earl” (I think I went to high school with Earl Hickey, the main character. Or maybe I was Earl Hickey, I can’t remember).

Painting has been kind of a relaxing venture for me and a means to get in contact with my younger self. Some of you may remember the economy was sort of in the tank in 1983, the year I graduated from high school. Interest rates were at about 21 percent, jobs were scarce (especially for a new high school grad with few work skills) and times were tough (kind of like today).

As I didn’t think I was yet college material, I spent the year after graduation looking for work and doing a variety of odd jobs, including house painting.
I was a bit more physically equipped for the job then.

For starters, I was more than 100 pounds lighter, and could climb up ladders and scaffolds. The heat didn’t bother me nearly as much as it does now, so I could work as long as there was daylight and I had plenty of water and a shady place to take a breather.

But being nearly 30 years older has its advantages as well. For instance, I know not to bite off more than I can chew. I’ve learned that “everything in moderation” includes household chores as well as eating, alcohol, etc. And I don’t smoke anymore, so I’m not dropping ashes into the paint bucket like I used to.

All in all, the painting project has been pretty good for me. I’ve gotten outside, gotten some exercise, taken my mind off of my worries.

I just wish there were a few more hours of cooler weather. But we can’t have everything.

John Ford is the managing editor of the Daily News.