Dear Lady In The Gym Locker Room

Dear Lady in the Gym Locker Room:

STOP STARING AT ME.

Every single Sunday I see you staring at me with a sense of pity and distain.

You watch as I test my blood sugar before Aqua Bootcamp and shake your head.

You peer from behind the locker and make sure I don’t get my tainted drop of blood on the locker room bench.

Now the fact that I keep my meter and strips tucked in my gym bag at ALL times – even when testing-as not to leave a test strip trail, never seems to matter to you.

Because I heard you whispering and cackling last week to the other women in the locker room about my testing.

I always feel your gaze as I unclip my insulin pump, stick it in a zip lock bag, tuck it in my sneaker, close and lock my locker tight like a drum.

Last week was my first time back to class in a month and I was excited!

But there you were, lurking in the locker room, trying to “catch” me in some sort of diabetes illegal act.

I decided called you to the curb and asked you if you had any questions, because I was more than happy to give you the 4-1-1 on the B-E-T-E-S.

You stuttered a bit and became flustered, and mentioned something about sanitary conditions and me testing my blood. Then you crossed the line by saying: We're in a locker room not an emergency room.

With that, the gloves were off and I told you that testing my blood sugar was more sanitary than coughing up a lung and not covering your mouth, which seems to be quite a habit of yours.

You didn’t like that at all.

You wanted to know why I couldn’t test in a bathroom stall.

I responded with: The same reason you don’t you cough in a bathroom stall.

You demanded to know why I HAD to test so much.

I demanded to know why you were being so nosey and close-minded.

The whole time I never raised my voice, and stood my ground FIRM.

I then mentioned the fact that if she’d like, we could take the subject up with the gyms Director,because I’d be more than willing to discuss my diabetes etiquette and rights as a PWD with him.

Others in the locker room listened, watching our verbal tennis match like it was freaking Wimbledon.

Finally, one older woman named Jean stated: Kelly does what she needs to do in life– just like the rest of us.

Another chicklet chimed in: She’s doing something right, look at her!

With that, I said “thank-you” to all my friends, and we disbanded as a group and walked towards the pool entrance.

I walked through the doors and dove in the deep end, trying to wash away my frustration in the process.

Untethered and annoyed, I kicked ass for 1 hour 45 minutes (with the last 50 minutes being in the deep end BTW) in Aqua Boot camp.

And every single time I did side kicks in the pool, I made pretend I was kicking you in your gut!

When it was time for cardio water boxing, every jab was aimed at your head!

BTW, thanks for the inspiration, when Class was over, my blood sugar was 69!

Your stupidity was certainly a great motivator!

I missed this week’s class due to a bout with a stomach bug,

But like the Terminator, “I’LL BE BACK” next Sunday, and I will test, test, and test again. Look all you want, but that fact won’t change.

See you next week!