Gulik Again

I open my eyes and test things out. Yes, the legs are stronger today, the head not so aching. I am tired, but not undone. I know I need to exercise if I want to stay strong and keep my immune system stoked.



Last night Mark and family appeared to collect Kiel and whisk him away to help out while they deal with the death of Mark's wife's grandfather, the man who raised her in her father's absence. I got to hold and kiss and hug my charming almost one year old grandson for a few hours before they managed to get Kiel packed and disappeared.



Today the house is quiet. It will help me to get out after almost a week's confinement, to slide gently back to the normal world. The YMCA is a good place to start. I walk Sugar, then pack my bag. I had hoped to do some water walking after the Gulik Gym, and I take my suit, but I am not sure I will be able to add it in just yet. I will see how things go.



When last I left the gym, I had worked up to level 3, and I intend to begin there at least for round one. Though tired, I snap my gloves in place and concentrate on moving through the stations in a thorough if somewhat slow mode. I make it fully around once, watching three or four young girls whip through the same exercises at twice my speed. Ah, to be young!



So far so good. I head into round 2, feeling OK. The music is quite engaging, a Latin beat, an invitation to dance, and a few of the ladies ahead of me get a bit zippy on the cardio steps. Its cute. But I resist the temptation to zip. I am afraid of being undone. As I round the final few stations, I debate about the water walking. I still have some reserve, but it is early in the day and I want to be able to do some cleaning in the apartment.



I am also concerned about germs. Right now my immune system isn't exactly at its zenith. I almost do it, but at the last minute, decide against it. Perhaps in another week after school is out and there are fewer people interested in being inside on a Saturday, there will be less risk of infection. But I am happy to have made it through the whole workout without any noticeable drop in strength. I actually feel as if I am breathing deeper. That's good.