Conversations At Elizabeth Mayo

This is a new regular post where I relate the random conversations that people will start with me on any given day. It might be my friendly looking face, or it might be that I have "good" timing. Either way, it results in some amazing stories.

Date: Tuesday, March 16th, around 11AM
Location: Al Oerter Recreational Center at Flushing Meadow-Corona Park

I was getting a late morning workout in, and noticed an older-looking woman, with frizzy red hair, glasses and a sherbet-orange shirt, having trouble with the exercise bike. "How do you get this started?" she asked me. I happily showed her how to work the screen. She calmly and happily rode the stationary bike, as though she were riding through the chalk land in "Mary Poppins."

About 15 minutes later, I jumped off the bike to get on the ACE trainer (the one that feels like you're cross country skiing and pushing your legs through taffy). I no longer feel content to burn just 150 calories in 30 minutes - now it's more like 350 in 30 minutes. As usual, there was a line for the machines, so I waited near the electronic scale.

Frizzy sherbet lady decided to weigh herself at this moment. "How do you turn this on?" she asked me. I pointed her towards the power button.

She weighs herself. She sighs. She stares at the numbers a bit longer, then steps off. Turning off the scale, she shakes her hands and walks over to me. After a pause, an adjustment of her glasses and a look like she was searching for the right words, she unloads.

"You know, a few months ago I got a cortisone shot in my hip. But then it got infected so I had to be hospitalized for five weeks. While I was in the hospital, I barely ate a thing and after I got out, I lost over 25 pounds. I was thrilled. I even went out and bought this sexy black dress because I thought it might stay off. You know, I've never been a very small girl. I like to say I'm very Rubenesque, you know?"

"Yes, I know from Rubenesque," I said.

"But it was nice to have that weight off me. I've never really exercised much, but I was always pretty cute and had cute dresses. But wow, to lose 25 lbs in a few weeks was like a jumpstart."

"You probably lost too much muscle in the hospital," I offered.

"Now its a few months later and I've gained back 15 pounds. I just thought I'd come here to work it all back off you know? I spent all that money on a dress and I have to fit into it."

"Well, then it's a good thing you're here. You can do it. Just keep exercising," I said, knowing deep down that her age and her body type were all working against her. But every girl, no matter what the age, needs to hold on to hope that they'll fit into that hot black dress one day.

By then, my machine opened up and we exchanged good lucks.

I am still regularly amazed at what information people will offer up to me on any given day.