Starting the Fire

In more ways than one

It was Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire' that gave me the inspiration.

Keeping the tune in mind, I began to write my own lyrics.

swimming laps
lifting weights
sweat pants
Every day
gym rat
under my nose
judgmental trainer
disturbs my repose
Dumbbells, bikes, punching bags
and other things that make me gag
I think my ligament just tore
I can't take it any more!

I didn't realise I'd begun to sing aloud till I heard my husband's voice joining in. He had entered the room without my noticing.

"Three weeks in Panjim
Meant I gave up the gym
And drinking all that feni
Has made a lazy lump of me."

I turned to face him, laughing. "How do you do it, sweetie?" I asked. "You just got right back to your gym routine the day after we landed. You didn't even have jet lag or anything."

"Ah, some of us just have it ..." he swaggered.

I raised my eyebrows. "You are not helping."

"Okay, I'll help," he said, suddenly becoming serious. "Let's start slow. Let's walk slowly round the block for half an hour every day till you get acquainted with your muscles again."

With our different work schedules, we hadn't managed walks together in years. But - determined to help me gym again - he set his alarm for a half-hour earlier each day and first thing in the morning, we walked around the block together.

It was quite pleasant. We met a few friendly neighbours walking their friendly dogs, and we got to really connect with one another at a level we hadn't managed before. Movie date-nights or dancing date-nights didn't give opportunities to actually talk so deeply.

So, while getting reacquainted with my muscles, I got reacquainted with my husband, too.

"You're now ready," he stated, two weeks after we had begun our morning walks. "You're now ready to take on the gym."

"But --" I stuttered.

Would this mean giving up our romantic half-hour? Should I goof up at the gym on purpose, so he'd continue our walks?

"I can read your face like a book," my husband said, breaking into my thoughts. "No, we won't stop our walks. I love them too."

My trainer judged me well when I reappeared. He was surprised I'd kept in such good shape after such a long absence. The fire of exercising was alight within me again.

And there was another sort of fire lit passionately at home when I returned ... but this story isn't about that!