I haven’t been to the gym for two months.  That after a long period when I was going three times a week.

No, it doesn’t make sense to me either.

It was the beginning of May.  My school life was revving up.  At the Poel, forty of us cellists were working hard on learning the intricacies of six short pieces.  On May 25, we’d be playing them (in four parts) at St. Michael’s Church.  I was a world away from being good enough to perform.

At CVO Gent, the mysteries of learning Dutch were piling atop my head.  So often I was lost in class … and exams were on June 8.

And my nephew Jagger was about to arrive from Canada for a 17-day visit.

There’s no time for Basic-Fit!

Or so I said.  All that fitness slowly leaked away.  Oh, I’ve done lots of walking since, but nothing to get my heart zooming past 120 beats per minute.  Nothing to strengthen those arm, leg and back muscles.  And no stretching program.  (Sigh)

Yes, it’s been a mistake to let my body go for two months.  All the excuses I’ve listed seem reasonable.  And I don’t want to be obsessively busy.  But I need to find a way back to fitness.  After all, I have about thirty years left of living on this planet (or so I promise myself).

My return will be pretty easy in July and August – no school.  The challenge will rear its lovely head in September when full speed ahead will resume in the realms of music and language.  My mind rebels: “At your age, should you really be tackling all this new stuff?”

Silly mind …

Today is now, and within the hour I will lighten the door of Basic-Fit once more.  The journey ahead is unknown.  There will be many trials and joys.  I’m glad I’m in the game.

120 bpm here I come!