Farewell, Dear Taskmaster

Catherine and Hector have come and gone taking with them thirty rolls of film. They made a good team and they knew their way around cameras and lights and backdrops. We got along fine. The sun gleamed through the mid-afternoon shoot and the gym traffic was light. Four hours of focusing, smiling and parading about in jeans and a tank top with an occasional pump between shots reminded me of some guy I used to know and feelings barely recognizable. Yikes...The drudges of an all out photo shoot.

Now, not to diminish the practiced technicians nor the... er... mature subject, but I don't think we struck it rich in the photo department. Do you know how ordinary you can look if someone with a camera doesn't take unusual precautions? Catherine suggested I slouch limply with my eyes cast forlornly to the floor. I've spent my life in pursuit of postures and attitudes quite the opposite of the fanciful request of the artist before me. I don't do this pose at home in my closet when despondent, never mind in front of the shiny worldwide lens marked "GQ". I stammer, "But, my image..." She reassures, "Trust me." Ever try to lovingly embrace a forty-five pound Olympic plate with both arms and look cool — for five minutes — while a camera aimed in your general direction is wildly clicking away? Look here, look up, teeth, look tough, smile... and... smile.

Do you remember when we used to sing? The book is done. Laree keyed in her last commands completing the final zip-disk of four that go to the printer along with the manuscript. Brother Iron, Sister Steel, 336 pages, 75 pictures and a box of crayons. The past week has been a blur of re-reads, overdone re-writes and my-bottom-is-sore computer frustrations. I miss my mop and polish and deadlifts.

Within the hour we will be heading down the hill, leaving our shack in the woods for the gym, if it's still there, for a creaky workout. On the way we'll drop off the overnight package at the post office. Farewell, dear taskmaster. You captured our attention and taught us.

I only hope you do as well before the reader. We expect to have a bound and finished book in our hands within a month. You'll be the first to know.

Click here for a look at the cover and a list of the contents.

FAREWELL, DEAR TASKMASTER