Ode to the Senior Mermaids

For almost 20 years we did aqua,
in the Bernard Weinger JCC pool.
We kicked and jumped with our noodles.
It kept us svelte and cool.

Most of us didn’t know each other too well.
There was so much to do, and no time to dwell.
Jobs and classes and time to baby sit.
We could only chat for just a little bit.

For birthdays and recoveries,
we’d celebrate with cantaloupe or cake.
We didn’t reveal what age we were.
That news would certainly be fake.

We saw each other naked
in the locker room.
We didn’t know that March
would bring us Covid-19 doom.

It was called the pandemic.
What could we do?
We would certainly miss
Susan, Nan, Jackie, Amy, Roz and Sue!

We quickly learned how to zoom;
not easy for seniors, you know.
But we gave it our best,
and soon it was a go.

We told a bit about our lives
outside of the J,
about our careers and interests,
and games we liked to play.

Each week we decided who would be the host.
Questions were asked about family, children and pets,
books and travel, fears and regrets.
We hope aqua will be open soon;
we will be up for the task.
But this time we’ll wear bikinis,
and of course, a mask!

 

Sue Pinsky
Sue has been a passionate advocate and dear friend of the J since she was a junior counselor back in the day. She was an original board member in 1973 and her blood, heart, and soul continue to be invested in JCC Chicago. Sue is a Highland Park resident with 5 amazing grandchildren, all of whom have gone to Camp Chi. She and some friends she affectionately calls “the ladies” have been meeting at the J regularly for 20 years.