01 February 2013

A Day at the Gym



My husband and I designated Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays as our after-work "hit the gym" days. We'd been in our new routine for about 2 weeks. He already has a daily lunchtime routine at the YMCA, with workout buddies. So now he gets to work out twice as much. That's how I keep him looking great!

I don my usual workout sweatpants and over-sized black t-shirt with "USMC Marines" scripted in blood red around a really angry looking bulldog. Eat your heart out Sylvester Stallone.

YouFit, on Mahan Drive, has a wide selection of resistance machines, cardio machines, and free weights. Though pretty crowded during the week, there's always an open machine when you arrive.

I check my watch after performing a few running and jumping warm-up routines. Tim was supposed to meet me after he'd gone home to walk the dogs. Sure enough, he pulls in at exactly 5:30 p.m.

I scan the area to see how many of my favorite machines are open and my eyes lock with those of a bald man with a goofy grin. His eyes light up, and he shifts back and forth on the heels of his feet like Gomer Pile with a secret.

Why is he looking at me like that? He looks at my t-shirt. I decide he's probably illiterate, so he must be fascinated with the angry bulldog. The man's smile disturbs me. I get a twinge of Déjà Vu. This is a terrible feeling, and I think something is getting ready to happen, something bad. If he doesn't quit staring at me with that goofy grin, Tim will punch him out. Then, the man will be a goofy, grinning, illiterate, bald man—in pain.

“Hi, Mrs. Carlisle,” he says. “How are you?”

I don't know what makes it happen, but the goofy grin fades like Etch a Sketch art when you shake it. Gomer Pyle is gone.

Embarrassment forces me to smile, but I probably look more horrified than anything.

"It's me,” he says.

He waits on me to speak, but I’m speechless.

He makes like he's using a spray gun with one hand while holding a canister with the other, "Your exterminator—remember?"

Then, I recognize him. Of course it’s him! A nice young man, too. Always calling 30 minutes in advance. Always courteous with the "Yes, ma'ams" and the "No, ma’ams”. Never late.

Then I realize why you shouldn't have your characters meet in another story. I was perfectly happy knowing him as my exterminator. It wasn't a pleasant experience meeting him, in full workout gear, ready to pump iron instead of his insecticide sprayer.

Have you ever known someone from one place and met them in another place,  which made them seem out of place?





15 comments:

  1. Oh, my! I've had that experience. I went to high school with the guy who repairs our copy machine. I always saw him around, never recognized him, never said much more than a polite "Hello." Well, one day he comes up to me and asks, "You have no idea who I am, do you?" Of course I said, "Sorry, no?" and he tells me who he is. I felt terrible...we had at least five or six classes with each other!

    What puts him out of place is that now whenever he comes in he always tries to play high school reunion with me and talk about the good old days. I'm over high school and really don't want to talk about it anymore...so now whenever he comes in I find an excuse to leave my desk until he's finished. Isn't that awful of me?

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    1. I dread that question, especially when they know you don't know them. I want to go, "Um, Kathy Pendricks? The transgender in 6th period? Oh my gosh, you look great! They did a great job on your...er, chest!"

      I would just prefer someone walk up to me and say something along the line, "Hey, you're the lady on Countryside Drive who I come to visit once every 3 months to spray your house and keep the bugs away."

      Then I could go, "Yep, that's me! How've you been?"

      LOL. But it's a bit narcissistic and I don't care. At least it wouldn't be awkward. :)

      Delete
  2. I recalling sitting in my office at work and a guy came up in a blue uniform and smiled real big and stood by my desk until I looked up. "Mary Wiggins, how you doing?" I haven't been Wiggins for over 20 yrs and was trying to place his face. Finally he told me who he was. Awkward moment when your staff at DOC and he's the inmate!!

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  3. This is so cute. I just watched one of my favorite reruns-"King of Queens" and the girl who usually walks the dogs decided her bug man was cute. It was funny, you had to be there.

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    1. I love that sitcom. If you haven't seen "Here Comes The Boom" you must go see. Very cute movie. Kevin James lost a lot of weight for that movie.

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  4. Oh my gosh, yes! The principal from the high school I went to shops where I works (at a health food store). Seeing him not in a suit and buying libido formula and talking about how great it works is always very disturbing.

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    1. EEEwwwww, creepy man! lol

      You poor lady! I was shopping at an adult store once to look for a gag gift for a birthday and I was freaking out because I thought I might see my boss there. My husband goes, "so, then you can ask him what HE'S doing in here."

      Hahahha!!

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  5. I'm still stuck on "uh, oh, spring is coming and I need to work out more..."

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    1. Well, it's only February, but here in Florida I figure I only have about a month left! :D

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  6. One of the guys in our office called 911 instead of 99 to dial out off the base. He quickly hung up the phone when he realized he had dialed the wrong number. A few minutes later the contracted base police comes to our office to fill out a false alarm report. After the officers were done, as they walk towards the door to walk out, one of them starts towards my desk. I was wondering why is this guy coming over to me, I had nothing to do with the accidentaly dialing of 911. He holds out his hand out to shake mine and says "How ya been Kathy?" At first I was confused then I saw the name tag on his shirt. I went to high school with him. He walked out the door and 3 guys in the office rushed over to my desk and wanted to know what he wanted. To them it looked like he had just come over to my desk to introduce himself.

    ~Sis

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  7. Whenever I'm out and I hear, "Miss Bradley?" (My maiden name) I cringe. I know I'm about to come face-to-face with a former student, from a long time ago because I got married in 2005. It's always a little jarring and it makes me feel old!

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    1. LOL, old? I know what you mean. I was only 21 when I substituted at MC Perry over seas. "Mrs. Carlisle" always made me feel old even back then.

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  8. I've had it a couple of times where someone strange comes up and says hello. I'm never quite sure if they think I'm me, or if they think I'm my lookalike. Which is a long story.

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    1. Long stories are fine!

      People see Tim and go, "Tommy Lee Jones!" :)

      Delete

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