A dangerous subject
Here we are. Early January. The time when people, some people, decided that going back to the gym would be a good thing. I come from a different time. For a number of years we had compulsory gym. Part of the curriculum. And we had to do things that in retrospect made no sense. Ignore the simple stuff like exercises and running. For some reason our teachers also included things that were better fitted to life in the circus. Let me explain. There were those ropes that hung from the ceiling. The ceiling was very high. You could not hit the ceiling by throwing a basketball unless you were very strong. We were told to climb with those ropes using our hands in our feet. Happily, in my class at least, no never fell from the top. But the possibility was there. And at the first sign of spring weather they took us outside to a field. A repurposed cow pasture. And we tried to emulate heroes of old. There is a reason why mankind stopped throwing cannonballs. And as for that stunt where you took a long pole and ran across that pasture and then try to swing yourself into space to go over a bar. Neither myself nor my friends ever managed. We had all seen the sport on TV and it seemed so easy. Until you actually run the long pool and try to stick it into the ground and then throw yourself into space and then not fall on your head. Too much effort and coordination required. We were young and we would probably bounce if we ever hit the ground but As for a way to keep us fit? I think some teacher had fallen on their head. Also, when you run around the track there is no easy way to explain to your mother why you were supposed to jump over little fences and not skin your knees. There you have it. A generation who dressed oddly went around outside trying to injure themselves and then decided that a gym was just too dangerous.
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