This past week found me and my sister-in-law, Jane, on a one day bus trip to St. Cloud, Minnesota. We joined several of the ladies from the Water Lilies to enjoy a day of laughter and relaxation. This trip was planned by the water aerobic gals for fun! Besides the enjoyment of visiting on the bus and a wonderful lunch at Anton’s in Waite Park, MN, our main agenda for the day was “ Menopause, The Musical”. Yes, an actual musical production that is a hilarious celebration of women and “the change”!
It might sound crazy, but it was a high powered creation full of energetic songs from the fifties and sixties, with a twist. The tunes were familiar, but the lyrics were changed to tell the story of the stressful time in a woman’s life called menopause. But the four singer/actresses who put on this wacky origination, left us in tears from laughter, and we were anything but stressed when it was over. The audience was mostly women, but included three men, one who was our bus driver! He even admitted liking the presentation, and found himself laughing right along with the rest of us.
These women were so talented and totally uninhibited! They take this show on the road all over our country and beyond. They certainly know how to bring humor and amusement that permeates the body. The feeling from laughing that hard is just so freeing. There is just something about “being in stitches” from laughing that is almost healing to the inner most parts. The upbeat music was nonstop, without an intermission, for almost two hours! I was physically tired from laughing.
I am thankful for this group of ladies, the Water Lilies. It is a caring group. It is one of the most non-judgmental groups of people that I have been blessed to spend time with. They are attentive to others who show up to exercise in the warm, pool waters up to three times a week. I enjoy the exercise and miss it when I can’t be there. But more than that, I miss the time and friendship of those who come. I love that there are no rules about how many times you have to be there in a month. Just show up when you can, and enjoy the hour of movement and fellowship.
One friend described the “pool group” as a team. They certainly look out for each other, encourage one another, celebrate the happy times, and share tears and hugs when the sadness comes. I have told you about these women and this activity before. I invite you to grab your bathing suit and come on over to join us one of these Monday, Wednesday or Friday mornings from 8-9 A.M. It feels invigorating, and your time won’t be wasted. You don’t have to know how to swim, and most of the time won’t even get your hair wet!
Job 8:21 says “ He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy”. God does that for his children. And friendship is a good way to find that happiness and laughter with another person. l encourage you to go out and in your pathways find a friend…smile…even laugh out loud. It does the soul good!
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