I feel old. At 50, I realize I shouldn’t, but the abuse that I have put my body through is catching up with me. As a former tumbler (not on gymnastic mats), performer and physical comedian, I have seen more than my share of tweaks, bumps and bruises.  I guess I wasn’t landing on the softplay tumbling mat that got me started as a kid.  I had a lot of kid play mats growing up.  As I get older, I am finally realizing that all the whining my own father did about back pain, creaky knees and sore joints,  was not only valid, but a glimpse into my own future. I am constantly amazed how the older I get, the wiser my dad seems.

So now, when my wife suggests a pleasant afternoon in the garden, all I can think of is the amount of pain my creaky old knees will soon be complaining about. Part of the problem is trying to get comfortable kneeling for extended periods of time. If you’re not on a squishy, squelchy, wet patch of soggy grass, you’re kneeling on the cement that borders the expensive plants that are trying their darndest to die.

It seemed so easy, get something to kneel on that resists water and is soft enough to ease the pain of ancient joints. Some type of anti-fatigue mats or something.  What I found online was a veritable plethora of flower prints, cute bugs appliqués or tiny things that barely fit one knee, let alone two.  So I went to my “go to” sight for all things mat-like, MatsMatsMats, and sure enough, there they were. A kneeling pad, of course!!  Large (14”x21”) dense (1’ thick) and MANLY (solid black) no cutesy little ladybugs crawling across the surface, no delicate little plants, daintily decorating the pad so that all my other tools laugh and tease it. This mat looks like you could use it on the side of a busy highway to rest on as you change the tire of your Hummer.

You can get a discount if you buy them in an affordable six pack (and what guy would refuse to buy a six pack?) I also found them to be a great alternative to stadium rental cushions.  I now have to decide if it would be appropriate to bring to church.  Wooden pews, beware.

Yes! The holidays! So much joy and holiday cheer and fireside chats and sing-alongs. But don’t forget the most important thing of all…PRESENTS! For without presents, our children might actually start asking why we’re not around as much!

Seriously, though, folks.. I strongly implore you to browse and peruse through our many in-stock gymnastic mats and other items this holiday season.  Lest we forget our aspiring little gymnasts mini high bar, or perhaps a  balance beam, or any of our many other types of gymnastic equipment. The next McKayla Maroneys of the country are hard at work on their spring boards in order to one day fulfill the dreams of a nation!

 So this holiday season, be sure to get in on our Christmas delivery guaranteed items and if you didn’t quite make it, there’s always our Santa Letter you can show to the wee ones. Make sure to cover your bases, parents!