[Mahler]

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 65– Peter Pan.


Good Morning, Guys,
I returned yesterday evening from Little Rock and the 3rd Annual JP Fitness Retreat. What a fantastic weekend it was. Putting aside all the teasing and kidding some of us did to taunt those that were not able to attend, I want to give some brief thoughts on my experience.

After much anticipation, Friday finally came and proved to be a day of meeting, greeting and eating. I arrived in the early afternoon and met Danny King (one of my adopted sons) at the airport where we were picked up by our chauffer, Craig (Buk on the JP forum). We checked in at the hotel and headed for JP’s Fitness Center just across the street and the fun began. Men from all over the country arrived at various times and within minutes of their arrival we were all behaving like old friends. Going to JP's is like a kid walking into a candy store. Everyone was walking around trying out equipment, looking over the place and just impressed with the view. How great to see my friend, Lou Shuler, again as we instinctively gave each other a hug (in a manly way, you understand). Then Jamie (Bond); and the same held true for my first ever meeting with Kaiser. I have been wanting to meet him for years now and what a treat to finally do so.

It was here that I met, for the first time, Greg and Gabe, (hardrox and deserve) two of my e-mail buddies from doing the Homegrown Muscle series. Both damn nice guys and so great to meet in person. Greg made a few good natured jokes about my age and I realized that I didn’t really feel my age. I come to these events and feel like Peter Pan, refusing to get old, refusing to grow up. And each and everyone in attendance made that possible for me.

Of course, JP had welcome packages of snacks, tee shirts and other goodies. Warm handshakes from new guys and a few embraces from what are now, dear friends, were the order of the day. How perfectly amazing to see the screen names materialize into flesh and blood . . . and muscle. To a man, these guys all walk the walk and are in good shape. After hanging out and waiting for the rest to arrive, we headed out for a casual dinner and finished up at a piano bar. We had been joined by this time, by two of the special guests, John Berardi and John Williams (johnka on the forums). Berardi should have been stopped at the door for being “heavily armed.” After all these years of posting, how great it was to finally meet johnka, tall, blonde, ripped and soft spoken.
Truthfully, though, the highlight of the evening was watching John Berardi eat white pasta. LOL Because of late arrival, he and Johnka ate when we got to the piano bar and the choices were limited. During the course of this first day, like Danny and others before them, Nick and Bobby were entering the ranks of my adopted sons. These guys keep me young at heart. We called it a night and walked back to the hotel to get some sleep for the day ahead.

On Saturday, we all met in the hotel dining room for breakfast and were so sorry to hear that a death in the family had called Nate (Rev on the JP forum) back home. I think Nate would be moved by all the concern there was from the guys as to his whereabouts and the reason for his absence. At breakfast we got to meet our guest speaker who had arrived late the previous evening. Chad Waterbury does not enter a room and go unnoticed. He is a big guy, but more than that, has a presence that is warm and friendly once you get past the impressive size.

Without boring you with the details, the day continued over at JP’s and the exchange of information and ideas with Waterbury, Berardi, Williams, Lou Shuler and JP was, in a word, INCREDIBLE. I, personally, couldn’t keep up with all the notes I was taking. Chad is a fitness craftsman. He knows his trade and knows how to explain it and help others to understand. I am currently doing one of his programs and was amazed at how it all comes together and makes perfect sense.

The morning was almost information overload, but was followed in the afternoon by demonstrations of exercises, injury assessment, assessment of proper form, new techniques for standard lifts, and so much more with some time for the guys to just try things out. I have to say here that the day would not be possible without the help of two fantastic ladies, known to most as cappuccino and chera on the forum. They helped JP with preparations and punctuated our day with healthy snacks. In addition, JP provided a gourmet catered lunch which was both healthy and delicious. Kudos to the caterer. Interacting with the guests, friends old and new, the years kept melting away and I felt younger and younger. There were no barriers here. We were all just a bunch of guys eager to live life to the fullest.

We broke at the end of the day to clean up and reconvene for dinner at a sinfully decadent Mexican restaurant. Lou, Nick (nbjjku), Kaiser and I polished off two baskets of tortilla chips before dinner. We are sure to burn in fitness hell for that but were glad that Johnka and Berardi were at the other end of the table.
After dinner, we adjourned to JP’s home where we pounded down the now infamous peej (vodka and fresca). A book signing with Berardi and Williams, pen in hand, ensued. Later some of the guys went out to hit the local clubs and some stayed behind just to shoot the sh!t, as they say till well after midnight, almost as if not wanting the weekend to slip away. But, finally, it was time to pass around the farewells and make our way back to the hotel. It had been a weekend of magic and JP had been the magician. Thank you. Your magic wand keeps melting the years away.

And as I sit here typing this report, I know that physically I am at my desk at work. But, that is not where you will find me. If you want to know where I am, just take the second star to the right and go straight on till morning.


Thank you, friends, brothers (and sisters), one and all.


Have a great week.

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In Fitness & Friendship,
Mahler