Earlier that day, I had grabbed purse, keys, cell phone and work bags, peeked into my boss's office to say I was leaving for the day, heading out immediately. He wanted to chat, but I really had to go. I'd left a grant unfinished, in a "messy" state on my desk. (Everything on my desk is unfinished and messy...it's how I work.) All of it would just have to wait. My daughter was expecting me to pick her up in 15 minutes, and then I had to race home to change into workout clothes, before driving south toward Lifepointe to make it on time for my fitness class.
As I got into my car and left the parking lot, I began to feel the pressures of the present peel back or fall away. I slowly forgot about the grant, forgot about my job, and shifted focus forward. My daughter, Catherine, and I got caught up, as we drove home. She asked about a possible sleep over with her best friends Caroline and Leslie, and began to list all the activities they might engage in - swimming, horseback riding, making Eggkaka (a unique Scandinavian egg breakfast), just as we entered our driveway.
Once home, Catherine and her dad continued the overnight planning, as I "raced up the stairs" to change into workout clothes for a record-breaking 5-minute costume change! (My "race up the stairs" is more like a "hobble.") Back in the car and heading south again, I began to anticipate the workout, and to prepare myself for the "good" pain and a little "limit-pushing." (A preparation routine that involves taking Ibuprofen.) And then I started to think about all the "greetings" that were to come....
Walking in through Lifepointe's huge front doors, Kris, who works at the reception desk smiles and asks "Hi Nancy! How are you doing? How's your family?" Paul, (my first trainer) smiles wide, and jokes about my tardiness while motioning to "get to work now!" He's very serious. My next trainer, Rob, casually shouts my name putting an emphasis on the opposite syllable - NAN-SEE - just like I was Norm walking into Cheers for the 105th time! The fitness session, while grueling, emphasizes my personal capacity or needs, not in competition with anyone else. The staff person who registered me waves and smiles as she casually walks by our class. A fellow class member encourages, no pushes, me to reach a goal in a weight-lifting exercise. My colleague Deb, a good friend battling some of the same health issues, welcomes me with a smile and a special "treat" such as water, or some new medical report or remedy. And every time our paths cross, the Governor's wife gives "two thumbs up" and a smile as I sweat, huff and puff on the rowing machine. I wonder what she sees? How hard I push myself? My drippy, sweaty effort or the pile of sweat water on the floor?
This is corny but the catchy High School Musical theme song is going to roll out anyway.... We're all in this together I hum to myself, and continue driving south toward Lifepointe. I can't wait to walk through the front doors of Lifepointe, a place where everyone knows your name and they're always glad you came!
Click to hear Cheer's Theme Song on You Tube!
Submitted on Sunday, September 19, 2010.
Complete lyrics to the Cheers Theme Song
Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got,
Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
All those nights when you got no lights,
The check is in the mail.
And your little angel hung the cat up by it's tail,
And your third fiance didn't show.
Sometimes you wanna go. Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same,
You wanna be where everybody knows your name.
Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee's dead,
The morning's looking bright, (echo: looking bright)
And your shrink ran of to Europe and didn't even write.
And your husband wants to be a girl!
Be glad there's one place in the world,
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came.
You wanna go where people know,
People are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows your name. (piano solo)
Where everybody knows your name, where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came.
Where everybody knows your name, where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came.
Where everybody knows your name,where every body knows your name,
And they're always glad you came.
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