Friendship Uncovered

Yesterday, while in the locker room at the gym, I was listening to a group of women talk and laugh as if they were old friends reminiscing about the days gone by. I couldn't help but think of my group of close friends and how we might behave when we are older and living a more relaxed lifestyle. I'm sure we will be laughing about the days of toddler hood that our children are going through, or maybe we will be planning our umpteenth cruise for that year. Perhaps we will be planning our girls night out for a Tuesday night instead of a Friday or Saturday. Or maybe we will be singing and dancing to the oldies like Madonna, Justin Timberlake or ABBA; nevertheless, I'm sure we will NOT be doing it in the nude!



As I was listening to these women I couldn't help but look up in comparing them with what my future holds with my girlfriends. The instant I glanced up all my dreams for the future were erased when I came face to face with two breasts bouncing with laughter. There is an unspoken rule when you are in the locker room to always look down. Why didn't I follow this rule? How did I let my daydreams get so carried away that I found myself staring at a group of women with towels hanging off of them. By hanging, I mean off their shoulders, around their waists or on their heads. I was like a deer in headlights caught in the rays of two luminous beams of light. As hard as I tried not to, and as much as I didn't want to, I looked. Not just at one woman, but the whole group of naked flesh. Unfortunately, that is a memory that will stay with me forever.



I feel extremely comfortable around my group of girlfriends. There are things we discuss that I could never imagine talking to anyone else about. But there is one thing I could never picture us doing and that is sitting around in a group having a lively discussion while in our birthday suits. So this poses the question: is this a generational thing or a comfort issue? At this present moment I am not comfortable sitting around talking about the days events in the nude; however, in 40 years will things change? Will I be so comfortable with my body that talking in the nude will be no different than talking while fully clothed? Or, will I just be too old to care anymore? On the other hand, did my generation grow up to be more reserved while earlier generations always showered together in the locker room? I guess only time will tell. If in forty years I'm sitting in a locker room with my friends talking about the days events I'll know the answer. Of course, I may be the one sitting in the stall by myself trying to put on my housecoat and stockings while the others are laughing away endlessly. I have noticed that those dressing or undressing in the stalls are not filled with belly laughs like the other women. Maybe those who are more reserved are the ones who are really missing out?