So, what do you expect?

One of the things that happens when working at the Y is another lifter who says, "I hope I can be lifting like that when I get to be YOUR age." I was thinking about that today while talking in the Introduction to Mass Communication class about how media tell some of our stories and how the media representations sort of set the expectations for age, gender, cultural, roles. And, I am wondering with all the vivacious boomers in gyms across the country, why it is still surprising for some to see an old(er) guy lifting weights and getting in shape. The thought hit me again as I watched some of the Cobra Club members (non college guys who support Coker athletics) make their way to the gym for an hour of basketball. Now, maybe none of those players are over 60 -- though I am not certain -- but a number of them have crossed the 50 mark. Do you think they are worrying about that as them make their way to the weekly basketball game? What they expect is a hard work out that shows them they can still hit a jumper, get back on defense and work all afternoon, even after such a work out. We expect that as long as the body parts hold out we will continue to challenge them to provide the joy, the utility and the matter-of-fact-ness they have providing right on until now.