the white angel

Today I met the "White Angel."


Prior to this morning, I was not even aware of his
existence. In those terms anyway.


As you know, in January I moved my workouts from
outdoors (that snow and cold thing) to indoors.


The Salt Lake Lions Club. Work out haven for
all people over 60.  


And me.


I have the pleasure and joy of working out for an 
hour each morning with Senior Citizens from all over
the east side of the Salt Lake Valley.


They are a consistent bunch if nothing else.


Each morning the same crew of 65 to 85 year old
men and women show up to kick my butt...or as I
like to say "vigorously work out".


But seriously some of them kick my butt.


I don't know any of their names.


I call them "Mr. Walks Really Fast With
Hand Weights Singing Show tunes" Or "He
Always Walks on the Treadmill" or "The
Man Who Runs Faster Than Any Human Alive"
or "Man Who Holds Alzheimer's Wife's Hand
and Tenderly Walks Her Around the Track
Every Day With a Smile".  (He's one of my
favorites--you can SEE the love he has
for this woman who no longer knows him.)


Me?  I would be "The Lady With No Make Up
and Her Hair in a Pony Tail Every Morning."


I don't know where they live or much about 
them, except for snippets exchanged as we 
pass each other on the track.


I am always greeted with a cheery "hello"
or "keep up the good work" or "you sure had
a great work out today" or something of the sort.


When one of them doesn't show up for a day or
two, I always worry that they have died.  They
are very old after all.


Today after I finished my stint on the elliptical
and moved to my time on the track, one of the more
chatty ladies sidled up to me to talk.


Truth be told I am an "anti-social-worker-outer."


I like to focus on the task at hand and am not
much into chatting and discussing current, or
any other, events.  I know lots of people who
love to have an exercise buddy and talk...


I don't.


After a few laps around the track, one of the
regulars dipped off to the side where coats
and water bottles are stored and grabbed 
something off the rack.  He tapped Ms. Chatty
on the shoulder, handed her something and
motioned for her to give it to me.


Then he proceeded to continue on with his walk.
(He's one of the fastest I might add). 


She said to me, "OHHHH he's known as the 'white 
angel' around here.  Always doing something
nice for everyone."  She then handed me something.


It was a brand new lap counter.


You know, one of those thingamajigs that
you press once for every time around the track
to see how far you've gone.  How many clicks
you've gone.  Add up all the clicks and they
become miles.


I was floored.  


ONCE, a few months back he asked me how far
I walked.  I said I didn't know, I just shot
for about an hour and always lost track
of my laps once I got going.  I keep my 
music blasting pretty loud for motivation.
It interferes with number counting in my 
head.


It was mentioned, in passing, a long while 
back.  The exchange forgotten by me, 
until now.


He remembered, and I suppose while at the
store happened to throw an extra lap 
counter in his cart and bring it for me.


It can't have cost more than a buck or two.


A cheap metal counter to help me keep track
of my distance on the track. 


The thing that was priceless was the THOUGHT.


The ONLY thing I know about this man is that
he is in his early 70's, is tall and reed thin.


And he has, well, a shock of thick white hair.


I have seen him pull in the parking lot at the
same time as me, he drives a nice Mercedes. 


He is a mostly "anti-social-worker-outer" too.

He comes, does his laps and moves on with his day.


I have no clue what his name is.


Today in the midst of all the "Hello's" and "How
are you's" and "Way too go! Keep up your good 
work!"  I learned a great lesson.


I think that maybe old people have the secret
to life figured out.


There is no judgement.  They are not concerned
with how you look.  Not once has anyone
ever made a derogatory comment to me.


The ONLY thing I have received, and from
COMPLETE strangers I might add, is support.


Hardly a day has gone by where SOMEONE isn't
telling me (and everyone else there), "Hey
you're doing a great job!"  "Keep up the 
good work!"  "It's great to see you!" "I'm
really proud of you!"


It is like belonging to a community of people
who only want you to succeed, who want you 
to do your best.  


YOUR BEST, not anyone else's best.
JUST YOURS.


They ask nothing else of you.  They see you
at your worst, sweaty, no make-upy self and
STILL only see the good in you.  Still
only want you to be your best self.
Still seemingly "love" you unconditionally.
Still remember it's the little things in life
that count.  Still know and remember that
we're ALL trying our hardest and while
my hardest may not be the same as theirs,
they respect me for trying MY hardest.


I love the things they have taught me,
in their own quiet way.


Like thinking of buying a lap counter for
a complete and total stranger.


Just because it will be helpful.
Just because it will make someone else
happy.


Just because.


Today, I am thankful for the "White Angel"
at the Salt Lake Lions Club.


And for all the other "White Angels" out 
there in my life, and the lives of others.



They make the world a better place for
the rest of us to live in.