THE SCENE: Partly cloudy, 66 degrees F, 91% humidity
F3 WELCOME & DISCLAIMER
WARM-O-RAMA:
SSH, Imperial Squat Walkers, Arm Circles, Cherry Pickers
Grinder Run, Grinder Bernie, Grinder Skip
THA-THANG:
Push Pull
Two Groups: First group does 11 Inverted Pull ups or 5 Pull ups while second group does 11 Merkins. Switch spots and exercises. Perform 6 rounds for a total of 66 Merkins and 66 Inverted Pull ups.
Indian Run to the Educator
Educator Workout
Burpees x3 at the base of hill
Alternate ascents: Bear Crawl half/Bernie half on odd number, then run on even number.
At the top perform following exercises with CMUs: Swings x11, Thrusters x11, Curls x11, 4 count Flutter kicks x11, Derkins x11, Upright Rows x11
Loop down the Educator by way of the sidewalk.
Mosey back to the AO.
MARY:
Box cutters, LBCs, Flutter kicks.
COUNT-OFF & NAME-O-RAMA
11 in attendance with a cameo appearance by Woodshack and a special appearance by Moses. Good to see some back after a few weeks.
CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
My reflection today is based on a memory error on my part. I thought May 2 was the anniversary but it was actually October 2. Just assume its October 2 today.
On that day in 2002, the Alcoa, Inc plant was getting ready for a visit by the CEO. Finishing touches on cleanup, painting, mowing, etc was in full gear. Just before noon, I was heading back to my office though a glass hallway when I see Rod using a push mower around the office area. I stop and waited for about 30 to 45 seconds for Rod to see me. Finally during one of his changes in direction he looks up and sees me. I nod, give him a wave, and open my mouth as if to say “hi.” Rod does the same and then we both go about our business.
Rod usually ended his work day at 3:00 pm but with much to be done, he accepted an overtime shift to work 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm. On that shift he and coworker, Danny Boone, were to get rid of an old glove vending machine that had been at the South Gate for ages. No longer did workers have to spend 10 cents for a pair of cotton gloves. Safety had progressed to a point dictating gloves as essential to job performance. Plus many task required specialized gloves much more protective than thin cotton ones.
Danny and Rod loaded the vending machine onto a 10-ton flatbed truck and took it around to the dumpster box area on the North end of the plant. At the top of the bunker they started to push the vending machine into the dumpster below when Danny got a page. He told Rod that he needed to find a phone to return the call. He asked that the machine not be moved until he returned. About 5 minutes later, Danny returns and notices that the vending machine was no longer on the truck and he did not know where Rod was. Looking over the top rail of the offloading area, Danny sees that the machine is in the dumpster. Tragically, he also sees Rod has fallen between the dumpster box and the bunker wall. The 8 to 9 foot fall proved to be fatal to 48 year old Rodney W. Martin.
One of the pillars of F3 is Fellowship. I bring up my memory of Rod to remind us how important it is to make those small, short, and sincere connections. We do that as we gather each workout with a simple fist bump and perhaps short chatter like “how are you doing” or “how did that work out for you at work.” It’s that simple connection to let each other know that they matter and they add to our life. Someday we will look back and smile about each other and the impact that F3 fellowship made.
I think back to October 02, 2002 frequently and I remember Rod mowing in his Christian slogan T-shirt. More often than not, he had one on. Perhaps that is what drew me to him. Perhaps that is what encouraged me to have some chit-chat with him. Perhaps I admired his impeccable work ethic.
Most often I think back to that day and know that I didn’t stop to say “hello” to Rod. I had stopped to say “goodbye.”
MOLESKIN
Continue prayer for Butterfingers’ M concerning employment. Lifted up Moses, Squiggly, and Snorkel in the 100 miler this weekend.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Hardship Hill – Be there or be square. May 18th.
