To gym or not to gym.

Roula has been asking me to join a gym for what seems like years. A few days ago she arranged to meet a couple of friends at the Reh-Fit. She kept asking me “Will you come? Is 12:30 OK?… So I go. I need exercise and I know that…

I do a few laps around the track, 10 minutes on the treadmill, 8 on the rowing machine, and attempt 10 more on the elliptical bike. I quit after 3 minutes and go back to the track.

One lap around the track (walking) and I am starting to feel a little better when an older gentleman passes me on the right. He starts to stumble, then runs straight off the track and into a wall, then falls in a heap to the floor. I yelled for help and ran to his side. His eyes were wide open but he didn’t react to anything I said. “You will be OK” I said, for lack of anything else to say…

Reh-Fit has quite a few medically trained staff, and they were there in less than 10 seconds. Of course they took control, ignored me and went about calling 911 and assessing the man. They had to get a chair for a woman, perhaps his wife, who was shaking uncontrollably while they worked. When the ambulance came the man was speaking to the paramedics.

I asked Roula’s friend if this happens often. “More here than elsewhere I imagine” was her response. Her husband is rehabbing after a heart attack at age 49…

Lately it seems my mortality is staring me in the face. Still not sure if I want to join a gym though…