It's time to expose one of the more mean-spirited and angry cross-sections of our society. Let me start by saying that I like "old" people. Some times I feel like an"old" person. I know that the word "old" is no longer Politically correct. But As you have probably guessed I really do not care. I am not sure how to define "old" in numeric terms. I guess it probably means over 60. I do not discriminate based on age or any other factor related to how long a person has been alive.
I started swimming pretty regularly about 3 years ago. Literally, the first time I went to the community pool I noticed a crowd of "old" women getting into the pool for some kind of water aerobics. They all had scowls on their faces. I got in a lane and started swimming. It was a busy morning at the pool. I finished and was getting dressed on the side of the pool and I noticed a guy get down into the water outside of a swim lane. He had violated the "old" lady's water aerobic work-out space. They instantly started yelling at him and waddled over and pushed him up to the edge of the pool. He looked really confused and got out of the pool. I made mental not to never make that mistake.
Over the last couple years I have noticed these women behaving extremely aggressively and being very rude and angry with anyone that seems to get near them. I witnessed one "old" woman hit a younger guy with a foam water noodle because he was in the water aerobics area stretching. I kind of chalked this up to funny "old" Utah women and left it in the pit of my mind, hopefully to never be thought about again.
About four months ago I was in Idaho visiting my in-laws. I went to the community pool with my father-in-law to swim laps. There is lap swim there between 11:00am and 1:00pm. We got there at around 12:05. The lady working the door told me: "If you are swimming laps, be out of the pool by 12:55." I made a mental note and went to the pool. We swam for awhile and at about 12:50 my father-in-law was done and I wanted to go a couple more laps. My father-in-law made the following statement: "We need to be out of the water soon, the water aerobics ladies get upset if we are late." I looked up at the side of the pool and their were 10 or 15 "old" women in robes with big scowls on their faces. I couldn't believe it. I quickly remembered the violent tendencies of these crazy women and got out of the water.
Two months ago I went to Atlanta Georgia for a work assignment. Wanting to continue my triathlon training I asked the people at the company I was visiting about a community pool where I could swim laps. I was informed that their was one just a few blocks away from the hotel where I was staying. I went early the following morning and I bet you can guess what I would found there. You guessed it, a crowd of angry "old" women with scowls on their faces marking their territory with foam water noodles and weights.
I have witnessed aggressive and angry behavior by "old" women doing water aerobics in 3 states and in two very different parts of the country. What gives? Why do these "old" women become so aggressive and mean? I thought Grandmas were sweet and kind people. I guess some times I am wrong. I am interested in theories about why otherwise normal and mild-mannered women over 60 become so violent, aggressive and mean when they go to water aerobics. Please help me find the truth.
2 comments:
Not all water aerobics women are OLD. However, I will attest to giving angry scowls to the "superior" lap swimmers who refuse to move even after a class has started because they are real athletes and we are just portly older women. On behalf of the not-quite-so-old women, I apologize if you have left the pool on time. Now spread the word to lane swimmin' brothers and sisters.
I will keep you in mind next time I am attacked or otherwise abused by these women.
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