Swimming…it’s a great sport, a  great way to get a good workout without injuring your body, and just an all around healthy thing to do. I started doing lap swimming about a year ago, and to tell you the truth, the worst part about it is getting out of the pool, sopping wet, going in to take a shower in the locker room, changing clothes, drying the hair,  and all that jazz. It’s not so bad in warmer weather, but in the winter it’s a pain with all the bulky clothes we wear.  In a recent effort to streamline things,  I went on a quest to buy a swim robe that I could just wear to the gym, swimsuit underneath, and then just swim, put the robe back on with undies, and head out of there for a  nice shower at home. Way easier. BUT, think about it, would you really wear a long bathrobe out in public? This was my dilemma …Like, how weird would that look?  I went on a search to find a robe online..one specifically for swimmers. I bought  one  and it’s awesome. Warm, thick, well made and floor length. I chose a simple black robe. I figured a white one would look a bit too spa like. I modeled it for my husband Mike and son Jeff. They both said, “Cool!”   Then Jeff said I looked like a boxer .  Oh my, that comment didn’t help!

I was getting cold feet about the whole idea of wearing it out in public, because, truly it looks like a bathrobe, it really does. How odd would I look, walking into a gym where other workouts were going on, and then there I am,  traipsing through with this robe that resembles night wear.  (Our gym has the weight room first, pool is in the back of that.)  Son Jeff, age 23, gave me the usual pep talk anyone his age would give, “Mom, no one’s really looking at you anyway, don’t worry about it.” He said that to be encouraging…Sure… Sad but true.. At age 57, who cares, right? But I sort of cared. I mean, like what if I got in a car accident and the officer thought something odd was going on, seeing me in a bathrobe in my car? I thought to myself, well,  maybe I  should have gotten an emblem on it that says something like, “Older Ladies’ Swim Club”? Nah.I am not flaunting that “older lady” term just yet in life….Just wear it with confidence Mary!

Well, it took me about a week to muster up the courage to wear it to the gym. But I did it! At first it was weird, getting out of the car with this thing on. I avoided all eye contact as I walked across the parking lot, then through  the  workout room  to get to the swimming pool doors.  At least the people, IF they were looking at me, would see that I was indeed going swimming , not planning on napping through a workout in what looked like sleep apparel.  The beauty of the robe is, it also has a hood. A good hood….like the kind that will keep your wet head warm….and like, the kind that no one will see your face in.  This is a great feature..Put hood on and walk fast… Get in and  out of there, even if it makes you look like a monk… I must say, now that I have worn this robe for a few weeks to the gym, it’s not a real big deal. Mind over matter…Maybe that’s the beauty of being 57…You start to not care what other people think. I mean really, it’s so freeing to finally get to that point in life. I am not completely there but it’s coming.  Oh and one other thing..I saw another lady at the pool walk in while I was doing my laps, dressed the same way, long robe and all!  I wanted to shout out, “Right on, Crazy Girl, you have a swim buddy!”  Maybe we can start a trend…  Maybe we SHOULD get emblems on our robes… “Over Fifty Free Spirit Club”  …Care to join?

PS So, what IF I got in a car accident on the way home, dressed in what appears to be a bathrobe? At least I’d be comfy in the E.R.!  Those places are cold!