The Shallow End Society
By Maggie Gray
There is something special happening at the Fairfax Community Pool. Every morning, around the same time, an unusual migration takes place at the community pool. No one blows a whistle. No one sends out a text. Yet, as reliably as geese heading south, they arrive.
They’re known as “The Bobbers.”
They have chosen their habitat wisely—the shallow end, where the water is warm, the footing is secure, and if someone loses a noodle, it’s considered a five-person rescue operation. Their synchronized bobbing has never earned them a medal, although they firmly believe it should qualify as an Olympic demonstration sport.
Spectators may think they are just bouncing around in the shallow end. They couldn’t be more wrong. What they’re really seeing is friendship in fluid motion, laughter floating over the waves filling the air.
The Bobbers are women who have weathered careers, raised families, buried parents, welcomed grandchildren, survived surgeries, celebrated anniversaries, mourned losses, and somehow still find reasons to laugh until mascara becomes optional.
What’s the hidden secret of The Bobbers? They didn’t come to the pool to become athletes.
They come because somewhere between the gentle bouncing, the endless chatter, and the laughter echoing off the pool’s walls, they have found a place where everybody notices if you’re missing, everybody celebrates when you’re back, and growing older doesn’t seem nearly so serious when you’re surrounded by friends who know all your stories—and still laugh at every one of them.
It takes a very special woman to become a Bobber. From a distance, they resemble a collection of fishing corks gently bouncing on a quiet lake. Up... down... up... down. It looks deceptively simple until you try it for 45 minutes while carrying on three conversations, solving everyone’s family problems, discussing recipes, comparing knee replacements, and maintaining your bobber position.
The serious lap swimmers glide by with determined faces, counting strokes and watching stopwatches. They leave exhausted. The Bobbers leave refreshed, caught up on the latest news, and somehow convinced they have solved most of the world’s problems before the lifeguards take their break.
Their workouts may not make the cover of a fitness magazine, but they have discovered something the experts often overlook: calories aren’t the only thing worth burning. Bobbing burns off worries, loneliness, and bad moods—usually while laughing so hard someone accidentally dunks their sunglasses.
The group has women ranging in age from their late 30s to their 80s. There are women with long marriages, recent widows, farmers, teachers, volunteers, retirees, and churchgoers. They’re a cheering section, a support group, a comedy club, and, on occasion, an unofficial medical advisory board. If someone doesn’t show up, someone notices.
The group is grateful for a special ramp that was installed by the city which now makes access and exit from the pool a breeze for many of the group.
Floating around the group are women from New Ulm, Gibbon, Winthrop, Morton, and Fairfax. Together the women swim laps and bob for rehabilitation, relaxation, friendship, and, apparently, a healthy disregard for chilly water.
No matter what Mother Nature throws their way, The Bobbers show up for their morning water routine. A little cold? No problem. If the water makes you gasp upon entry, consider it part of the workout! These women prove that friendship, determination, and a willingness to get wet can overcome just about anything—even a brisk Minnesota morning.
The Bobbers wander in one by one, greeting each other as though they haven’t seen one another in years instead of yesterday. Someone tells a joke. Someone shares good news. Someone admits they’re having a hard week.
Let us not forget there is also a very subtle swimsuit fashion show! The Bobbers may come to swim and float, but they certainly don’t miss an opportunity to check out each other’s suits. There’s plenty of admiring, comparing, and the occasional “Where did you get that?”—because apparently, you’re never too old to make a splash in the latest aquatic fashion!
Somehow, after an hour or more of bobbing, stretching, splashing, and laughing, everyone leaves just a little lighter than when they came. Maybe that’s the real magic of the shallow end.
People ask why they never move to the deep end. Why would they? Everything important is already happening in four feet of water. The laughter, the chats, the exchange of ideas, all this happening over bobbing and noodles.
To any senior woman reading this, one thing is very clear. You can move to our city as a total stranger. Although you know no one in the town, a local community pool can becomes a lifeline, replacing isolation and loneliness. The pool is a place to meet new friends, to work out, or just to “bob” with the best of them.
Gifts often come in strange ways. They do not have to be wrapped with bows or ribbons. They do not have to be offered on special occasions. Sometimes the most joyous gifts are found in the most unexpected places. Before you know it, you are immersed in the water, snagging your favorite pool noodle, and are bobbing with the best of them! In your heart, your deepest wish is that summer would never end for you and the ladies of the Shallow End Society!
Comments