THE GYM

Ever since I arrived here, I have thought about joining a gym.  Not just for reasons of health (and possibly help in firming up all this sagging flesh) but for social reasons.  I thought it would be a good way to meet permanent residents.  So one day on my way across the bridge to my bank, I noticed that a new gym was opening right on the river.

As soon as it opened I stopped by to inquire about rates and what help I might expect.  No one was interested in talking to me, so I just walked around.  It was quite large with beautiful new equipment and the tread mills were placed in from of large windows overlooking the river.  Later I went back to try again.  Two employees were talking to each other.  I waited patently for them to  finish their conversation.  The guy (who must have been a trainer judging from his body) just walked away.  The woman reluctantly turned to me.  She spoke little or no English and after handing me a rate sheet, she too walked away.  I was not pleased.

Then a friend told me about a gym that opened a year or so ago just a few blocks from my apartment.  As soon as I entered, a smiling young man (with a very large body) walked toward me and asked if I needed any help.  The equipment looked fairly new and the place was very neat and clean including the showers and dressing room.  The next day I paid him for one month.  I wanted to be sure I did like it and that my old body was up to the rigors of exercise.  After receiving a towel and locker, I did not receive any further help, but then I did not ask.  Many of the machines were familiar to me so after 15 minutes on the tread mill I did about 45 more minutes of exercises.  To my amazement, my only sore muscles were in my legs (the only good muscles I thought I had)  I could barely get up and down my spiral staircase for days.

Since then, I have figured out which leg machine caused the problem and continued pretty much on my own.
One day, the "not so good looking partner" was alone in the gym so I asked him for help. The first thing he asked is what part of my body did I want to work on..  Standing there in gym shorts and T shirt it had to be obvious that there wasn't any part of my body that did not need work.  He was very nice and helpful.  The smiling Adonis is still very pleasant but not very forthcoming with help.

I have yet to make any new friends there, and have not lost one kilo, but I have only been going for  a few weeks.  I have increased my time on the tread mill, and my number of exercises and repetitions.  I will persevere.