Memories

...and lifting & reading.

So, I’ve recently found a different Planet Fitness to go to. It’s relatively new, open an hour later than my usual location, and is closer to me by 5 minutes.

AND is part of the Moorestown Mall - in fact, I mentioned it in an older MG newsletter essay wherein I posted a photo of the now defunct Sears department store. This Planet fitness next door to it has its one back corner where the Book End Bookstore used to be in the 70’s and 80’s.

(That bookstore was my favorite when I was a youth).

So, I’ve been going to this new one all week now and it’s a very well kept secret, apparently. It has yet to be crowded when I am there. It’s glorious. AND, it’s full of nerds and geeks - no morons flexing in the mirror and taking up the machines as they sit there staring at their phones.

Quick aside - just lift and stay off your goddamn phone. Play on social media and the dating apps later, you ADHDHDHD dork.

Getting back to the old bookstore - so, whilst working out on the bench press my mind casts backwards in time to when that very same spot was racks of books.

Here is the front corner of what used to be the raised checkout counter and the adjacent Dungeons & Dragons shelf/rack!

It made me happy to no end to be working out and lifting in that Smith machine that was, essentially, where the D&D products were when I was 10 years old.

I used to sit on the floor in front of that shelf and read the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rule books, adventure modules and the latest Dragon magazines.

In the landscape of my memory, two worlds were melding together…essence of an MG, right? The Masculine Geek takes care of his mind AND his body.

Now, go read, write, lift, (and drink)!