Last night I decided to get off my huge growing ass and join a gym. I used to go to a gym that was $10/mo but I wasn't motivated, and didn't know enough of what I was doing so I quit. But a friend and I found this new gym. A fitness center if you will, its one of those all women places, with equipment, classes and a circuit. Me likey. So I sat down at the table with Jenny, the incredibly obnoxious manager, and got to talkin' about membership rates. Well to enjoy all of the wonder that is this "fitness center" it was going to cost me $100 to sign up, and $40/mo for a contract of TWO YEARS! And if I ever want to cancel, I have to pay an additional $100. Holy hell. Coming from the discount $10/mo gym I was pretty shocked. I had no idea it would cost this much and was seriously taken back, mostly because I'm a poor kid.
Well it turns out there is a little room for negotiation with Jenny. So here I am facing another bill, which truthfully I probably can't afford, but I really desperately need to work out. Not just because I feel like a manatee but because we all know that the more we move with MS, the longer we will move. Exercise really is extra important for people with MS. But at this point I'm a little worried about hating this gym after I sign my life away on the contract. So, like I do so often, I start thinking of ways to get out of the contract. And it just so happens I have a shitty disease that can "get me stuff" in certain situations. So I ask Jenny, what if I have an attack and I have to cancel my membership (because I'll be damned if I pay $40/mo for something I can't use). Jenny says, "Well with a Doctor's letter, you can cancel....for $100." And before I could say anything my friend steps in and says "So you're charging her still even if shes sick?" Which is sorta bullshit anyway.
So long story short, Jen Jen agrees to let me cancel without a fee. Infact, she specifically had to write in an extra clause into my contract. It was ridiculous. So it got me to thinking...is there ever a good time to "pull the disease card?" We get dealt this crappy hand of cards, is it ever ok to make the best out of it? Or is it totally morally wrong to ever get any benefits out of this disease?
Here's what I think: PULL THE CARD. I got dealt a crappy hand, right, so If I pull an ace from the stack does that mean I should discard? Ok enough card references. But seriously. I don't think its right to fake anything. I would never fake a limp, or a shake or something like that. I would never push it over the top, but every once in a while does it hurt? Lets face it, I didn't lie. I didn't make up the disease, I'm not pretending. I'm merely stating a possible truth, and the fact that they'd charge me to cancel in addition to start seems a little over the top.
Granted if I choose to leave this "fitness center" it will probably not be on account of an attack. In fact, I made a pact with my friend that if we decided to leave, I'll pay half her cancellation fee because mine will be free. Get this, she can only cancel if she moves over 24 miles away and she has to pay $100. If she moves 23 miles away shes still paying the shit out of that membership. I call bullshit. Anyway, I understand that, that is a business. They need to make their money just as I do. However, isn't there a limit to where we add useless fees onto things? Don't try to tell me your main focus is fitness and making people feel good, you and I both know, its making money. I think if they get to make up fees, I get to pull the card.
I rarely pull the card, but you know what, sometimes there are times in life when there may be a slight perk, if you will, to having a disease. Maybe, just maybe its canceling your gym membership for free. Sometimes even its a cheaper membership. Who knows what may present itself. I say make the best out of a situation. I never asked Jenny for her pity or sympathy. I never told Jenny about how hard my life is or anything like that, I just said I don't want to pay that fee, its stupid, I have a disease which is also stupid. Pull the card.
