Sunday, February 19, 2017

A Christmas Tree Mystery at American Family Fitness

Maria and I are members of American Family Fitness, a gym which has several locations in the greater Richmond area. There is one at Virginia Center Commons that is literally minutes from our house. Most trips to the gym are uneventful, but you might recall a blog post from 2014 where I described finding a bizarre package in the men's locker room. Last week, I noticed something in the parking lot that still has me confused.

On Thursday nights, we usually take a class called Active, which ends at 7:30. During this time of the year, it's dark when you leave the gym and walk to your car. I couldn't help but notice, however, that there was a small sedan parked near the entrance...with a Christmas tree tied to the top. I haven't seen one of those around town, since - oh, I don't know - December?! Remember, this took place on Thursday, February 9. It was almost Valentine's Day!

After putting my gym bag in the car and turning out of the shopping center, I noticed the Christmas tree car right ahead of me. He was heading to our neighborhood. Exciting! As he turned onto the main road in our development, I was really hoping he lived on our street.


About a quarter-mile later, he pulled his car off to the side of the road, right in front of our community clubhouse building. It didn't seem like car trouble, but I couldn't be sure. I wanted to just sit there and wait to see what he did, but alas, I drove by and came home.


Unanswered questions from this bizarre incident:


1). Did the man end up dumping the Christmas tree on the side of the road, right next to the community building? I didn't see an abandoned Christmas tree the next afternoon, but in all fairness, the staff might have called someone to pick it up by then.


2). Why did the person stop to go to the gym first? Did this man say, "You know, my wife is really on me about getting rid of our Christmas tree, but I need to knock out some cardio first?" If he was going to the gym right from work, does that mean he was driving all day with the tree on his car??


3). Did he get the yips and just forget what time of the year it was? Maybe this was an honest mistake. He thought it was December, chopped down a tree by hand, and was going to surprise his wife with it. Then, in front of the clubhouse, he realized the error and decided to abandon ship.


Whatever the reason for the tree, I wish this gentleman the best and thank him for yet another American Family Fitness mystery!


2 comments:

  1. Valentine's tree? Presidents' Day tree? Groundhog Day tree? Many possible explanations. - Maria

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    1. So true...I especially enjoying picturing the Groundhog Day Tree in all its potential glory. :)

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