BOOMER by Tim Engel (smallest ebook reader txt) 📕

another 5 miles. And drops off kitty. He turns for home and realizes hey, I’m lost. He opens his cell phone and calls the wife. Hey, Honey, is Kitty there. Yes. Well, put him on the phone, cuz I’m lost!!
That was one of about 15 jokes Robby told in a row. At one sitting. During one evening meal. What a joy. It was then that I remembered that when people lose certain senses, or suffer a loss of some kind, they are often blessed in another way. Like Robby had lost 98% of his hearing and 65% of his sight, but he had mad skills when it came to telling jokes. And this I think was partly because of his amazing memory.
Robby and I had some great times in the gym. We were probably the strongest team In the gym. There were some bigger stronger guys like James, the Principal, and big Mike. But as a team, Robby and I were probably the strongest. We got to where we could both bench 315 lbs. That’s the Olympic Bar with 3 large 45lbs plates on each side. That’s a ‘man’ weight. As my new workout partner would say ‘not a chick weight’. Of course, I have known of and seen ‘chicks’ lift much more weight than I can handle. At my strongest with Robby in the gym about 4 years ago I got 315 lbs for 5 reps, 285 for 18 reps, and 225 for 21 reps. That’s a lot of bench pressing and probably too much concentration on bench work for sure.
Later I realized as I had gotten up to a body weight over 300 lbs, it was time to reign myself in. That’s when I got on the stick and with the help of lots of folks and some dedication of mine, was able to pull back a bit on the reigns.
Seven years ago I started competing at the Boeing Huntington Beach Fitness Center’s Benchpress Competition. I thought I might have a shot at doing pretty well since I had lifted 360 lbs for 1 rep in the gym. And this contest was a best rep max with three tries. So I signed up and continued with my lifting. And my big body (fat). The first year I got a respectable 350 lbs. This was close to the best in the entire contest. I think the best overall was about 380. And I was only beaten by 2 or 3 people. For my age, and weight category I won first prize and was pleased when I won a trophy. The trophy is of a man at a benchpress pressing an Olympic bar. A nice trophy. I went on to win 3 more of those and 2 2nd place medals. One of the medals is dedicated to my Pop Tim who fought in WWII in the Battle of the bulge. His children, nephews, nieces, and grandchildren have all dedicated awards they have won to Pop and they adorn his flag which was presented to Mom by the Color Guard in honor of his service at his funeral. It was a beautiful service.
But as nice as it was to be strong, I realized it was more important to be fit – or at least more fit and so began my journey to lose weight and the long haul of cardio, fat burn, cross fit, spin, yoga, pilates, core classes…
My new partner in the gym is Jake. Like with Robby, I think we’re probably the strongest team in the gym. Especially when Jay joins us. A couple of weeks ago all three of us bench pressed 315. Now it’s rare to see anyone benching 315 at the Boeing fitness center. But to see a team of 3 people benching 315 together is truly rare. But we did it. And since we thought it was kind of important, Jake asked me if I would take pictures. So I did. I took pictures with my Blackberry. First was Jake. Then Jay. Then me. Man, the pressure was on. I hadn’t benched that much in probably 3 years or more…but we had all been getting stronger with our benchpress. Jake said hey, let’s go for it. I said OK – let’s do it. I wasn’t awfully confident. But after Jake did it and then Jay – I knew I had to go for it. BAM!! Up she went. And we were all very happy and proud and basking for a moment enjoying the achievement!
So flash back to the BLC and It’s day one and I know there’s massive food to be had. And I figure I have to get my butt in gear and get the cardio going! I jump on the elliptical/stair machine and flip on FOX News and punch in my age, weight, fat burn, and 60 minutes. People come and go and I roll on on the stairmaster. Further into the night…more and more I go and enjoy the fact that despite the approaching virus in my lungs and sinus, I’m working out. What does Dr Oz say about working out while being sick? Joe Weider would say use your common sense and listen to your intuition. What was your body telling you on a given day? What was your energy level? Where were your short comings? Calves? Time to bomb the calves.
I am fighting off a cold. A virus I started catching before I left to come to St Louis. I had a sore throat on Friday night – but slept in on Saturday so that I felt pretty good on the weekend. Sunday morning I flew out to Phoenix and then to St Louis. I seemed to do pretty well on the flight with my ears; but the feel of the virus is still there. I start taking meds and drinking extra water. Peppermints are readily available which help to keep my throat from getting dry. So sitting in class for 2 hours at a stretch is not too bad. But when I cough, I do so the ‘new’ correct way; into my elbow. Everyone appreciates this because it supposedly helps to keep you from spreading the disease around as readily on your hand.
Boring stuff – talking about colds. I don’t get them very often any more. Maybe once a year or even less on average. I think working out really helps. And taking vitamins and greens. Health
Health. Fitness. Nutrition. Whole foods. Supplements. It’s a big subject. It’s timely and important. My Dad was a health nut and a gym rat. He ate whole foods, took supplements, vitamins, worked out at home, in the gym, on the street. He loved working out. Loved it! When Mom and Dad divorced Tom and I would go visit Dad and Katy on the weekends. We would wake up to the sound of Nat King Cole…”Unforgettable…that’s what you are…” Beautiful music. And Dad would appear in the doorway. “Hey, I’m going to go for a run around the neighborhood. Wanna go with me?” Barely awake and nudging twilight sleep again early Saturday AM I replied…”uh, I’m kinda sleepy.” “Ok, I’ll see you guys in a bit.” And off he would go. And we listen to Nat…”unforgettable, though near or far. Like a song of love that clings to me. How the thought of you does things to me. Never before, has someone been more…unforgettable…” Simply amazing. Beautiful. This was Camelot. 1960s. Here with Dad and Tom and Katy. And Nat. Nat King Cole. His music like liquid nerve potion. Soothing, lilting, soft, kind, music for the soul.
How did I get from fitness to music?! Oh, I think they’re entertwined. So when a young man on the USS Gwinn Dad was a young strapping fellow from Sioux Falls South Dakota. He was skinny, but healthy and strong. Didn’t run from a fight; but decades later and 40 lbs heavier he wanted to have a reckoning with a bully from his childhood. I think we all do. At least guys do. To grab hold of those cowardly cads and turn them as Dad used to say “every way but loose”. I had mine when I thought of the captains of industry who brow beat me, talked down to me, disrespected me in the past. But thanks to the Lord and maturity I have forgive them. I saw some of them in Laughlin and laughed at myself for considering beating on a poor man in his 70s who was here to have a couple drinks, eat a nice meal, and reminisce about old times at the ‘bird farm’; Douglas Aircraft.
Dad had a big chest, big shoulders, big arms and a small waist. Young ladies at work would comment to me about how good looking and handsome Dad was. I was down right jealous! But Dad loved everyone. Loved to chat with folks. Was very social. So much that we sometimes got busted at work for chatting in the hallway while enjoying a cup of coffee. I know Dad got written up with disciplinary action once time for this and I felt really bad. I remember seeing the write up. Edward was witnessed talking in the hallway with his son during working hours. Edward and his son have no business to be worked during working hours. Then there was the time that Dad was in at work early working what is called ‘pre-shift’ overtime. I think he was in early and had his feet up reading the newspaper. He missed the sound of the bell for start time and Zack Calhoun walked In and caught Dad ‘in the act’. In the act of not working when he was supposed to be hot on it…pre shift…overtime! Earning time and a half. Oopsie. Zack cleared his voice and Dad turned down the corner of the newspaper. Uh, Ed, did you happen to notice what time it was? “oh, sorry, Zack!” And off he scurried to work. Zack had lots of people working for him. I saw him at the recent Laughlin reunion. He is now in his early 80’s and doing well if a bit frail. He’s not one of the guys I wanted to punch out. He was a good leader for the most part.

Dad sort of looked like this. They nicknamed him Mr Clean at work because of his great physique. They would marvel at how he could make his chest ‘dance’ by flexing his pectoral muscles. One planner was a pretty good cartoonist and he would draw cartoons of various folks there in the Planning department. He drew Dad up pretty much like Mr Clean. One time we were at the drive-in theater and a guy crowded us from behind. Dad was trying to b ack out and this guy got right on his bumper. So Dad started to get