Reflections

—“Why in the world would *****, a lifeguard at Canandaigua’s YMCA swimming-pool, make such a production of meeting me after eight months?”
I found myself wondering about that this morning as I awoke.
I round a corner poolside, our eyes meet, and “BobbaLew!” she shouts.
I’d like to think she was waiting for me, since we saw each other earlier, her in the pool-area and me outside.
She coulda just waved and said hello to me, but instead she hit me with questions.
Did I see her running on a nearby road? (She runs.)
I didn’t, but apparently she saw me. “I’m pretty sure it was you!” she said to me.
Contrary to my critics she seemed happy to see me.
She’s married, of course. And I’m sure her husband is way more attractive than I am.
Plus I make too many mistakes in my fumbling and feeble attempts to befriend women I find attractive.
I surmise it makes ***** feel good I consider her attractive. The old girl (age 64) can still attract the little boys, even though that little boy is 12 years older than her.
“What about your wife?” people ask. I wasn’t physically attracted to her until later.
What brought us together was her attraction to me: “I like the way that Hughes-guy thinks.”
She was a frump who could be made pretty. ***** isn’t gorgeous, but she’s attractive.
Our friendship blossomed into much more, mainly the fact that we talk and laugh — despite all the dumb mistakes I made trying to befriend a lady I consider attractive.
I admit I gravitate toward an attractive lady with whom I can talk, and that’s not just *****.
I never can leave that pool without trying to talk to *****; and she’s only a lifeguard = I’m not interrupting.
I try too hard.

• I do aquatic balance training in the Canandaigua YMCA’s swimming-pool, currently one class per week — almost an hour — less than usual due to COVID-19.