Sister Jean & Baby Sister Betty

I.  HATE.  THE.  GYM.  There!  I said it and I feel no shame, either.  I have just never been the kind of person that enjoys working out.  No shade for those of us that dig working out.  Ya'll share your intense desire for working out with whoever will listen and get excited about your latest nutritious and delicious meal when you describe it to people like me.  Yeah, that's nice.  That's just NOT me.  I was that kid in middle school that would conveniently leave my PE clothes at home and lose points for not "dressing."  Just thinking about sweating out my freshly pressed hair then was enough to keep me sitting on the bench until the bell rang.  And that has not changed much some 30 years later.  The stanky smell most gyms have that is a mixture of fabric softener, cologne and sweat that assaults my senses when I walk into the gym is enough to get the, "I Smell Shit Poop Face" from me. But!  I know I must make an effort to work out for my health and it's good for my 40 something year old body.  Besides, there is no way I am giving "The Man" my hard earned dollars every month without working out at least a little bit.  Please!

When I do make it to the gym it's because I literally roll out of bed at 5:30am with them singing sanging girls, Mary Mary sanging me awake with that song, "Thank You!"  PRAISE BREAK!  "It could have been me (thank you), outdoors (thank you) with no food (thank you) and no clothes (thank you) or left alone (thank you) without a friend (thank you) or just another number (thank you) with a tragic end (thank you) but you didn't see fit (thank you) to let none of these things be (thank you) cause every day by your power (thank you) you keep on loving me (thank you) and I wanna say, "Thank you Lord for all you've done for me!"  I fumble through the dark putting on my gym clothes, hurriedly brush my teeth, wipe a towel across my face and get on my way.  Well, not too long ago as I sat on the stationary bike to get through the cardio portion of my workout I noticed an older black woman on the bike next to me.  She is likely in her early 70's or so, dressed in a Haynes thick sweatshirt with Haynes thick sweatpants of a different color, those black orthopedic shoes with white tube socks topped off with a royal majestic blue night bonnet.  You know, the kind with the delicate white ruffles that wrap your face?  Yes.  She.  Did.  *blank stare*  I give her the, "Good morning, mother!" smile, she smiles back pleasantly enough and continues looking straight ahead.  No talking.   No grunting.  Just getting it in!  I have affectionately named her, "Sister Jean" in my mind.  She looks like a Jean, you know?  

"Me and You, Us Never Part.  Makidada."

I looked to my right and noticed another older black woman close in age to Sister Jean on a stationary bike.  She is dressed just like Sister Jean but is wearing a brighter Haynes sweatshirt, her Haynes thick sweatpants kinda sorta maybe match, is sporting those white orthopedic shoes with white tube socks and guess what?  She, too is rocking that royal majestic blue night bonnet.  You know, the kind with the delicate white ruffles that wrap your face?  Yes.  She.  Did.  Too. *confused blank stare*  She looks just like Sister Jean only a little shorter and a little rounder.  I give her the same, "Good morning, mother!" smile and she greets me with kind eyes.  She stays focused on her workout, too.  No talking.  No grunting.  Just getting it in!  I have affectionately named her, "Baby Sister Betty" in my mind.  She looks like she's the younger of the two and Betty is a nice enough name, I figure.  

I typically complete my workout before Sister Jean and Baby Sister Betty.  Hell, let's be honest...I rush through to get the hell out of there most times!  I nod their way as I walk out the door just in time for me to see the sunrise to my right on my way to my car in the parking lot.  A beautiful start to a day...

One early morning while riding the stationary bike I noticed Baby Sister Betty was missing.  Sister Jean was going about her business completing her workout and I could not help but ask her, "Where is your workout buddy?"  The first words I had spoken to her all this time.  She seemed a bit surprised that I noticed and said, "Oh!  That's my sister.  She has a doctor's appointment today and decided to stay home.  She's alright, baby and will be back tomorrow."  They are sisters!  Do you know I was actually relieved?  I instantly felt worried for Baby Sister Betty when I did not see her slowly prodding around the gym in her royal majestic blue night bonnet.  In my mind I imagined she and Sister Jean were as close as 2 peas in a pod.  They are probably from a large family with plenty of siblings and likely slept in the same bed together head to feet as little girls inseparable from the start.  My fantasy of them reminds me of what I want so much for my sisters and I and seeing them every day I get to the gym is such a delight.  Their bond is evident to anyone that see's them together and we should all be so lucky to have that kind of familial companionship as we get on in age.

And so this morning, when I silenced Mary Mary's voice reminding me just how good God has been, I did not hesitate to roll out of bed.  I happily fumbled around the dark to get "dressed" in my PE clothes.  I opened my eyes wide as I brushed my teeth before pinning my bangs out of my face to salvage a tiny bit of my hairdo.  And when I walked into that stanky gym, I waved at Sister Jean and Baby Sister Betty finding them right where they always are.  On the stationary bike.  Not talking.  Not grunting.  Just getting it in!  

Bless their hearts.

Side note…my first ENTIRE draft of this blog was accidentally deleted as a result of my enjoying the strongest bottle of Sangria I have ever had in my natural life.  *hiccup*