Well, this isn't the blog I thought I was going to write tonight, but I had to share this story... cause it's a typical Erin Lacey story.
So, I go to the Y with more frequency than I used to, and my favorite thing to do is right the "Expresso" stationary bike. It's got a screen and it allows you to pick different "tours" that appear on your screen and it is supposed to feel more like you're riding outside and less like you're riding a bike while watching TV. As far as gym equipment goes, it's a little more complicated than your average treadmill, and people are forever getting on the bike next to me without a single clue how to get the thing started. Therefore, I've developed some skill at explaining the way the thing works, while still pedaling.
Yesterday, I was pedaling on the "Bent Spoke" when I notice a group of people come in the gym. I'm a total nosy neighbor at the gym. I do the same thing at church. I know I'm supposed to be meditating and reflecting on my own workout/sin, but really I spend a lot of time looking at people's outfits and wondering why anyone would wear pantyhose in this day and age. This particular group stood out though, and it was apparent it was a group from an adult care program of some variety. The bike next to me stood open and the caregiver set up a young lady of about 20 on the seat. The caregiver fiddled with the controls for a moment when the guy on the other side of her offered to help. I kept pedaling and watched as he got her set up on the race track tour.
Part of the fun of the TV screen is there are other racers on the tour with you. You can pass them, or if you're in the mood, you can ride your bike right through them. The guy on the other bike kept telling the girl that she could race the other people and she answered a couple times with "Do I have to pass them?" I thought to myself that this guy was nice for helping, but he wasn't really listening to her. He finished his ride and left. I noticed that she was still having a little trouble with the pedaling and steering, so I mentioned that she didn't need to worry about the steering cause the computer wouldn't let her run off the track. She said that she was uncomfortable cause the straps holding the pedals on her feet were loose and asked if I'd fix them. So I jumped off my bike and fixed her right up. I hopped back on and continued to chat with her, keeping up a running stream of encouragement. The whole time, in the back of my head, I'm hearing one of the kids' Bible camp songs, about loving a stranger like a neighbor and I'm mentally breaking my arm patting my back for being so nice.
I was watching her screen and I could see that she was rounding the last turn before the finish line. "You're almost there! Just make it around this turn and you'll see the finish line!" I say. I was so excited for her to finish. In my head, I'm thinking that maybe there's a volunteer opportunity here, this is so rewarding! Special Olympics, maybe? "Just a little further! You can do it!" Wow, it's really awesome to watch someone accomplish a goal. "Keep it up! There's the finish line!" We're mere feet from the finish line when she looks at me and says, "Can you please stop talking to me? It's really distracting me."
