Awkward Gym Moments

I realized today that I have a lot of awkward moments at the gym.  How did I realize this? By having an awkward moment at the gym. Actually, two of them.

And I fully blame ms.  Why?  Because I can, that's why. All those copays and tests and medical reports give us certain rights...

Today started out innocent enough. I felt as if I could handle the treadmill in lieu of the stationary bike. I've not really been adventurous enough to try the treadmill for all of these months on account of how the marks on the toes of my shoes seem to have gotten a bit darker. And come on, it's one thing to trip and scuff your shoes whilst out on a walk around the neighborhood. It's a whole 'nuther to trip on a treadmill (aka 'rotating conveyor belt of moderate to severe injury'), fall, and be flung against the wall. I haven't felt particularly 'trippie' in the last few days, so I gave it a try.

I boarded the treadmill, pushed my ear buds into my ears, clipped my iThingie to my shirt, turned it on, turned it UP, started bopping my head a bit (thank you, Calvin Harris...you crazy DJ, you) and started to walk...

Within .10 of a second, I realized that the belt does not move until you actually TURN ON the treadmill.  I tripped and caught myself against the handles that measure your heart rate.  Unfortunately, the guy next to me totally saw it happen.

(This would've been the perfect time to use the "I'm not drunk, I have ms" mantra.)

My finale du jour occurred on the arm machine. I had pushed myself beyond exhaustion and gotten to that level of exercise where I really could not have cared less what I looked like. I slouched in my seat, wiped my face over and over, and felt as if I just kicked my workout right in the face! But I wasn't done. I thought I had one more set left in me! As I rested, I was enjoying my music a little too much and noticed an approaching man with a look of bewilderment on his face. I realized I was dancing in my seat.

(Again, not drunk...ms...)

Thankfully, the gym's slogan is "the judgment free zone". Because I've done things like...

• excitedly wave at someone I thought I knew...but didn't
• realize I needed to use the bathroom...5 minutes ago
• walk straight into a very large man...face plant into his chest
• place my bottle of water back into the cupholder of my bike...and miss
• try to wipe my face with my towel...and poke myself in the eye 

If someone throws a stare my way, I shall point to the wall as a reminder:

So don't judge me, fellow exercisers. Because the wall SAYS so. With an "e".

Meh, I figure at least I'm trying? Yes. At least I'm trying :-)

Life is...fast.

'Tis the time of year that we sit at end-of-the-school-year ceremonies and watch our kids magically transform from one grade to the next.

I'm pretty sure that - just yesterday - I dropped my daughter off at preschool and struggled mightily to carry my son in that ludicrously heavy carseat.  Alas, they're now heading full speed into the 10th and 8th grades, respectively.

Ridiculous.

As I watched them stand in front of the audience, my 200mph mind flew through the years.  I thought about holding them in the hospital, and cleaning the baby food off the wall (Mom was right, I let my daughter feed herself too early), and watching them board the bus for the 1st (and 2nd - 8th times), and all the medical stuff our son overcame, and all the awesome things they've accomplished, and how they're kinda getting old now but I'm so not...and then I began to think of the future and all the things I hope for them.  Like that they'll always have an awareness of God's loving presence, and that they'll be able to go to the college they want, and have careers they enjoy, and find a godly spouse who loves and treats them with respect, and be a godly spouse who does those things, and that they'll never have their hearts broken and never have so much as a cold and never have a credit card and never go into a bathroom stall that's out of toilet paper and never have someone upset them or take their parking space........

:::you see where I'm going, and you surely feel the speed of my thoughts:::

Anyway.

While June marks the end of a school year and realization that yet ANOTHER year has flown by, quickly following comes the recognition of the year my uninvited guest moved in.  14 years ago, this year.  Official dx, 10 years ago.

(CST, I don't know if you still happen across my blog posts from time to time?  But I'll always cherish the loving way in which you delivered that news.  You will always mean the world to me.) 

All this to say...life isn't short.  It's fast!  And I praise God for every moment...

Could someone please stop this guy?  Seriously???