Day 169: 14Feb2012
Shortly after I joined RetroFit back in October I discovered they had “retro” video channels. Mostly I ignored them, opting for my usual iPod playlist and watching ESPN news in closed captioning. Then it happened one day… my iPod wasn’t charged. Rather than skipping out on a workout (because that’s the lamest excuse ever, I workout even if I forget my headphones–as I did recently), I plugged in and checked out the retro channels. Fun videos from my early teens started popping on the screen before me. Of course, there’s always the song that comes up you hated even back then… so you surf to the next. And there it was, Retro Metal–hairbands galore… the era when for once, men were dressed as scantily clad as the few women allowed to play in the arena… and they wore just as much (if not more) make-up. The first time I really discovered this was a random Sunday and I ran longer than I had any time previous so I could listen to forgotten songs by Def Leppard and Warrant.
In the last week, I have completely given up on my iPod and just really enjoy the retro videos… occasionally hopping from metal to pop; Quiet Riot to Blondie. And what I’ve come to realize is part of becoming who we are is embracing that who we once were… and learning to laugh and give it its proper due… and hey, if a little Poison helps me sustain speeds over 7 mph for long periods of time, thank the good time boys and run on.
