I just came across this story a friend sent me eleven
years ago. I laughed so hard I could barely read the last paragraph. Let me
share it with you. I wish I knew its author.
For my sixtieth birthday my daughter gave me a week of
personal training at the health club. Actually, I am in great shape having been
a cheerleader of our high school’s football team 43 years ago, but I decided to
give it a try.
I called the club and made reservations with a personal
trainer named Belinda, a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic
clothing and swim wear. My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get
started! The club urged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
MONDAY: Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of
bed, but found it was well worth it. Belinda was waiting for me at the health
club. She looks like a Greek goddess—blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling
white smile! She gave me a tour and showed me the machines. After my workout I
watched her conducting her aerobics class. Very inspiring! Belinda encouraged
me as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in whenever
she was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week !!
TUESDAY: I drank a whole pot of coffee, but finally made
it out the door. Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into
the air. Then she put weights on it! My legs were a bit wobbly on the
treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it
worthwhile. I feel GREAT!! It's a whole new life for me.
WEDNESDAY: The only way I can brush my teeth today is by
laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over
it. I think I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I
didn't try to steer or stop. Belinda was quite impatient with me. She said my
screams bothered other club members. Her voice is too perky for early in the
morning. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the
stair 'monster'. Why the h*** would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity
rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would get me in great shape to
enjoy life more. She said some other s*** too.
THURSDAY: Belinda was waiting for me with her
vampire-like teeth exposed as her cruel lips pulled back in a full snarl. I
couldn't help being half an hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes.
Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she wasn’t looking, I ran and
hid in the restroom. She sent another skinny b**** to find me. Then, as
punishment, she put me on the rowing machine. I sank it.
FRIDAY: I hate that b**** Belinda more than any human
being has ever hated anyone! A stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little
cheerleader. If there were a part of my body I could move without unbearable
pain, I would hit her. Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have
any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the D***
barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. Next the treadmill. It flung
me off and landed me on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have
been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
SATURDAY: Belinda left a message on my answering machine
in her grating, shrill voice wondering why I didn’t show up today. Just hearing
her made me want to smash the machine, but I lacked the strength to even use
the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather
Channel.
SUNDAY: I'm having the Church van pick me up for services
today so I can thank God that this week is over. I will also pray that next
year my daughter will choose a gift that is more fun—like root canal or a hysterectomy.
If God wanted me to bend over today, he would have to sprinkle the floor with very
big diamonds.
Until next time,
Rosi
