Lockdown Powerlifting - Barry Rosenberg

I turned 77 shortly before Lockdown hit my gym. Bummer. I had recently discovered powerlifting and I wanted to continue with the Zen of squat, bench and deadlift. Then, on receiving the $750 stimulus package, I thought to buy equipment, but all the sport stores were empty, even eBay and gumtree. In desperation, I nipped around the op shops until I had a bunch of small weights, one barbell and one dumbbell. Yet still no power rack to enable squat and bench press.

Since my wife, Judith, is an artist, I had some highly ornate gold picture framing obtained by dumpster diving when a framing shop had moved premises. Consequently, in the first weeks of Lockdown, I spent hours in gluing and screwing gold moulding. The result looked magnificent, the first ever Louis XIV power rack.

Unfortunately, the structure wobbled too much even for my low weights. But with what I’d learnt, I soon converted an unused workbench into a stable rack and a sturdy bench. This meant that during the first weeks of Lockdown, I was so busy in making my home-made gym and so exhausted in using it, that it was almost a pleasure not to suffer the many activities to which flesh is normally heir.

Once the rack was finished, as well powerlifting, I still had other woodwork projects, plus I was writing a novel. With these activities, I initially didn’t mind this time in isolation with Judith. Although I’m okay giving speeches, or enjoy brief chats in the gym, and I’ve performed as an elderly hip-hop dancer, I’m not good at basic mingling. Too long with having to chat to people and I feel trapped. So Lockdown quite suited me. When it didn’t, shopping provided an escape.

As an older couple, we were advised not to go shopping. Yet we didn’t have family to call upon, or young friends. So with masks on, every few days, we’d hit a supermarket. In Nambour, this meant we always bumped into friends. Circling each other, we’d have loud, but muffled, conversations.

I guess because we both have creative outlets, Lockdown wasn’t too bad for us. Also Judith and I chat easily to each other, although we sometimes forgot the words we wanted. We could have tolerated longer, but were certainly glad when the restraints were gradually reduced.

Post-Lockdown, I found the isolation had turned me into a minor celebrity. Coming out of the Nambour Plaza, a woman called out, “Excuse me, are you the old guy who built a gym under their house?”

“Yes,” I said in amazement. “But how did you know?”

“A neighbour put it on Facebook.”

So there it was, my fifteen minutes of fame.