152 ~ That Word

By Kay Heitsch

Right after I gave birth to Shannon, I joined a fitness club. After we moved, I never joined another fitness club until after Todd died.

We were up checking on Todd's grave and stopped over to visit Grandma Z. in the nursing home. As always, Grandma always said something you couldn't ignore.

This visit, Grandma Z. asked me to come close to her so she could feel my legs. It seemed weird, but I scooted over close. After giving my legs a couple of squeezes, she sat back in her wheelchair and, in her matter-of-fact way, said, "Kay, you're getting flabby!"

If that wasn't bad enough, now she wanted to know how much I weighed. I started joking with her, and then she said, "I weigh 111 —where do you come in around that number?" I weighed 103 at the time, but I wouldn't tell her.

When we got home, I needed to go to the dentist and had a crown. On my way home, I saw a sign in a town close to ours. It said, Valley Tan and Fitness. Even though I was still numb from the dental work, I stopped in and joined. I loved going there and met some fantastic people who are still friends today.

The following summer, we were back at the nursing home visiting Grandma Z. After giving her a hug, I announced, "Hey Grandma, I joined a fitness club! Don't you want to feel my legs?"

With a tone only Grandma would use, she gasped, "Heaven's no, why would I?" I laughed and continued, "Well, last time we were here, you wanted to feel my legs, and you actually said, 'Kay, you're getting flabby!" after feeling them.

I'll never forget Grandma's response. In a tone of disbelief, she scoffed, "Flabby, flabby?? That word is not even in my vocabulary!"

Remember how I led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2