This is one of my favorite photos from my younger years. 

It is a great action shot highlighting my early success on the uneven bars. If I didn’t know any better, I’d suspect that moments later I would suffer a devastating neck or spinal injury. I’m sure they used high quality padding to cover the YMCA gymnasium floor. 

Maybe this was standard issue back in the 80’s, but I have been to several of my niece’s gymnastic classes and I have never seen a single instructor wearing a dress and white stockings. She could have been a gymnastic star and really knew what she was doing, but her outfit along with my flailing body leave little doubt why I still can’t touch my toes.