Every morning I lifeguard at my school's pool from precisely 8:00am-9:00am. It's fairy easy seeing as all I have to do is sit in a folding chair and watch some elderly people swim back and forth. Occasionally there isn't even any one there! On Fridays there is a water aerobics class that starts at 9:00. The older ladies and gents usually come around 8:00 to free swim for an hour. The first Friday I life-guarded a woman who organized the park and rec program came into the swim area and said that they were not allowed to swim, because they were not covered under the insurance during that time because the life-guard shift from 8-9 was not paid by the city; that the free swim from 8-9 was for faculty and students of the school only. This had never before been the case. So all of these wonderful older people got up bright and early to go for a little swim only to learn they could do this no longer. There was an up rage! There was a lot of debating going on, and all I could do was observe. I wanted so badly to run in between the older people and the woman, throw my hands up, and just yell, "Stop! Can't we all just get along! I really wouldn't mind guarding! I mean we're here anyways and there's no one even in the pool right now!" The women left to go have a brief meeting with the pool adviser or something and the other life-guard and I were given strict rules to, "Not allow those folks in the pool by any means!", followed by a little wink...I just felt horrible. As soon as she left they all came over and were like, "Oh she's gone, let's go for it!", but they didn't. Thank goodness, because I would have felt so bad asking them to, "Step away from the pool!" One elderly gentleman walked in during the middle of this fiasco and just waltzed over to the pool and started going in not realizing what was going on. I had to politely ask him to get out. He was so confused. I felt horrific. Pretty soon the next lifeguard on duty came and when she heard what was happening she said, "Ridiculous! Everyone get in the pool!" Bouts of cheering pursued and this life-guard received much thanks. I wish I could have been the lifeguard who had the 9-10 shift that day. She was their hero. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, however, there is a water aerobics class during my shift and boy is that fun to watch. It's pretty intense. There's these four older guys who always come and they are just hilarious! They goof off the whole time and make fun of each other. I really don't think there is much difference between the age gaps. Today one of them took eight of the water weights and stacked them up like a pyramid. It was grand. After their class their instructor always asks them what they are thankful for and they shout things out. One woman every Tuesday and Thursday without fail responds, "Sunshine!". I agree sunshine is a wonderful thing to be thankful for.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Sunshine is a wonderful thing to be thankful for.
Every morning I lifeguard at my school's pool from precisely 8:00am-9:00am. It's fairy easy seeing as all I have to do is sit in a folding chair and watch some elderly people swim back and forth. Occasionally there isn't even any one there! On Fridays there is a water aerobics class that starts at 9:00. The older ladies and gents usually come around 8:00 to free swim for an hour. The first Friday I life-guarded a woman who organized the park and rec program came into the swim area and said that they were not allowed to swim, because they were not covered under the insurance during that time because the life-guard shift from 8-9 was not paid by the city; that the free swim from 8-9 was for faculty and students of the school only. This had never before been the case. So all of these wonderful older people got up bright and early to go for a little swim only to learn they could do this no longer. There was an up rage! There was a lot of debating going on, and all I could do was observe. I wanted so badly to run in between the older people and the woman, throw my hands up, and just yell, "Stop! Can't we all just get along! I really wouldn't mind guarding! I mean we're here anyways and there's no one even in the pool right now!" The women left to go have a brief meeting with the pool adviser or something and the other life-guard and I were given strict rules to, "Not allow those folks in the pool by any means!", followed by a little wink...I just felt horrible. As soon as she left they all came over and were like, "Oh she's gone, let's go for it!", but they didn't. Thank goodness, because I would have felt so bad asking them to, "Step away from the pool!" One elderly gentleman walked in during the middle of this fiasco and just waltzed over to the pool and started going in not realizing what was going on. I had to politely ask him to get out. He was so confused. I felt horrific. Pretty soon the next lifeguard on duty came and when she heard what was happening she said, "Ridiculous! Everyone get in the pool!" Bouts of cheering pursued and this life-guard received much thanks. I wish I could have been the lifeguard who had the 9-10 shift that day. She was their hero. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, however, there is a water aerobics class during my shift and boy is that fun to watch. It's pretty intense. There's these four older guys who always come and they are just hilarious! They goof off the whole time and make fun of each other. I really don't think there is much difference between the age gaps. Today one of them took eight of the water weights and stacked them up like a pyramid. It was grand. After their class their instructor always asks them what they are thankful for and they shout things out. One woman every Tuesday and Thursday without fail responds, "Sunshine!". I agree sunshine is a wonderful thing to be thankful for.
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