Who was I kidding?

In an effort to and get in shape at this old age, I thought I would try water aerobics. While

pondering the idea, I thought - why not see if Kate and Patty want to join me. I ran it by them and they were both up for it, Kate more enthusiastically than Patty I will admit. When I signed up, I realized that I kinda knew the instructor as she attended the same church and we played on an adult baseball league together when we first moved to Arizona. Cool I thought, it is always easier going into something new when you know someone.

I sent Coach Gloria a quick note via Facetime Messenger and told her we had joined her Tuesday and Thursday evening classes. I explained a little about us and said we would stay to the back and try not to disrupt class… who was I kidding.

The first night there we realized in the back of the class was deep water, so we staggered, shorty (Kate) in front of me, and the giant (Patty) behind me. I felt like I spent most of the first two nights just trying to help Kate do the motions, not splashing the nice lady next to her and telling her not to answer all the rhetorical questions that Gloria asked us. She moved the entire class, and talked the entire class, but movement was the goal. I told Patty you will only get out of this what you put in it, coordination is not a quality she enjoys, but told her to just keep pushing through and moving! 

Kate would say “This is hard.” Gloria heard her and said, “Kate, not hard - Fun”. Throughout the evening Gloria would say - “Kate, what is it?” and Kate would holler “FUN”. Most of the ladies chuckled or agreed with her. I must say it was harder than I ever imagined. I was a wet noodle getting out of the pool. Kate on the other had was her happy self. She thanked Gloria and said “Good-bye everyone” as we rounded the corner to the showers. 

I had her shower there with her suit on, killing a whole flock with one stone (body, hair, suit). It is a small shower area, only three nozzles that you have to keep hitting to keep running, a new concept for her. The first night she kept telling me it broke. When she was all out of bubbles, I had her over by me and drying her off. One of the ladies walked by and said something smells good. It was Kate’s three in one shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Kate said, “that’s me.” Then when everyone else came through the showers, she would just say “that’s me”, they didn’t have to say she smelled good, but of course they didn’t even know what she was talking about!

On the third night, Coach Gloria suggested I not try to help Kate so much. She seemed to think she would do fine on her own. She said she had a Niece with disabilities and had worked with the disabled in the past (explains her patience). She said sometimes Moms and Sisters feel like they have to protect others from her, she is welcomed here.. let her go!

So we did. I need to stop here and thank each and everyone of you ladies in the pool last night who very patiently told Kate what you were going to do on Saturday when she asked.

She did pretty well I must admit. There were times when I went past her and said “stop talking” hoping not to get in trouble from Coach Gloria and to give the lady she had hijacked a chance to get away. I would hear the ladies telling her what a good job she was doing. One lady said you are like a rock star! She giggled so loud - my heart flip flopped.  Since we didn’t try to corral Kate last night Patty and I were separate also. It warmed my heart to hear her loud laughter coming across the pool. She was enjoying herself, or laughing at lack of coordination, either way it was laughter!

I’m not sure what was said in the shower last night, Kate was under the water and said she was sorry to another lady for something.  Of course, my Mom ears perked up.  But the lady said, “don’t be sorry honey, you make me happy.”  Patty looked at me and we just smiled at each other.

There she goes again, sharing the joy.