Esther Williams in Lane 2

I still swim a couple of days a week and I'm finding that while the temps are dropping outside, the pool gets emptier.  Either my senior swim pals are not digging being cold and wet or I'm just hitting the pool on Senior Outing days. 

I found myself alone with two old guys in the pool the other day.  And while I pounded away at my mile swim, Ichabod Crane sloooowly paced Lane #4 and the male version of Esther Williams swam the sidestroke back and forth, back and forth in the lane next to me.  I wanted to tell him that he should switch sides as he's gonna be all bulked up on the right arm from all that sidestroke--but I didn't. I think he'll figure it out when his shirt doesn't fit........on one arm.

Oh, there are all sorts of funky swim strokes going on at that pool.  And while I try to mind my own breathing, I find myself cracking up at the silly swimming that is going on around me.  Things like the "butterback" where the legs are doing a breaststroke kick, while the person is on their back, flailing both arms at once to move forward. It's sort of like the butterfly--but on their back. I'm surprised they don't drown doing that.

There is a lot of Ester Williams-type swimming--you know, where your hair never gets wet.  There is the sidestroke, the breaststroke, and the noodling along as you hold the lane line marker.  But they look good--not a hair is wet.

Then there is the Jacques Cousteau group, where there is mostly underwater swimming.  And that doesn't bother me so much until the dude with the mask and snorkel does that--it sort of creeps me out wondering what he is looking at with that mask.  Any man I tell that to tells me that he's looking at one thing--so now I'm creeped out by that dude.  EEK.

I had a friend post on FB last night that his gym is all full of wacky Jersey Shore types.  He says they all stare at themselves in the mirror, flex, gel their hair, and parade around trying to impress everyone.  Well, I can say I definitely don't have that.  I guess I count myself lucky that all I have is my senior buddies--who continue to make me laugh.

And  make me feel young and in shape.