Heartbreak Testimonies at the YMCA

Introduction:

If you're ever paying attention to anything but your workout at the gym (that's everybody), you'll notice the meandering staff member who totes the rag and spray bottle. Looking only 0.1 % committed to his task of wiping down gym equipment, this sad–sack drags his feet while running his rag over surfaces at random. He looks so bored you might wonder if he's someone who stops halfway through flossing his teeth, sighs, and shuffles off to bed. He'll try again in six months when the dentist reminds him. 

Working at the YMCA last summer, the sad–sack with the rag and spray bottle was me.  Sort of.  I almost never wiped down the machines.  Mostly, I oriented members to equipment and kept a maintenance log for malfunctions more serious than a semi–broken TV on treadmill # whatever –– causing Mrs. Whoever to miss an episode of her favorite soap opera "Days of Our Lives."

In my case, there was no question whether or not I was sad before entering the job or sad because of the job.  A recent breakup had left shards of glass in my chest, and I needed a way to clear some debris.  So I asked members a personal question during their "recoveries," which were often so long I could have flossed three times before the workouts started up again. But enough with the flossing metaphor because, like the average machine-wiper-downer and –– let's face it –– human being, I usually forget to floss. 

The question I asked: "Have you ever had your heart broken?" 

The Heartbreak Testimonies I Received:

I was 14. He was my first kiss. I thought it would be an epic romance. I was depressed for two years. Didn’t eat a thing. At the time, I believed my biggest accomplishment was being so thin I fit behind my mother’s dresser. Since then, I’m perpetually single. There’s really a lot of not good enough men out there. ––Sylvia, 27

Heartbreak? Yes. When my wife died. Blood disease. 52 years of marriage. Total emptiness. 

––Bill, 76

What happened? He did some bad things.  ––Melissa, 22

Have I ever had my heartbroken? No, actually. –– Dorothy, 91

I was 31. I was with a guy I thought I’d marry. But he just couldn’t make the committment. We stayed friends, I married someone else, and the first guy ended up babysitting our children. With every girl he dated after me, it was always the same thing. Didn’t want to take on the responsibility of a serious relationship. He died age 47 of a brain tumor.  He always thought he’d die young. ––Judy, 71.

I miss him so much I don’t think of him anymore. –– Kate, 21

When you’re my age, heartbreak is a more permanent condition. You’re too young to be talking about heartbreak. But you know, even elephants experience loss. –– Mary, 57

I’ve only  been in a relationship with Jesus, so that question doesn’t really apply to me.

–– Alice, 24

Heartbreak? Oh yeah. It was 1966. Dominated my waking hours. ––Greg, 64.

No, but I’m kind of . . . mean. –– Jennifer, 44

Heartbreak? Which one? Ok, I’ll tell you about the biggest one. I went with a girl all through high school. She drove a new corvet to school everyday. Her family was really wealthy. She left for college, and we still went together. Then we got engaged. Her parents sent out three hundred and sixty five wedding invitations. They bought us an apartment. Then my brother asked me a question one day: “Do you love Irere?” I had never thought about it before. “No,” I said.  I broke the engagement. Most painful thing I ever did. Ten years later, she died of kidney disease. By then, I had realized what it means to love, but it was too late.  –– Harrold, 64.

Heartbreak. Let's see. When I dated another girl to legislate making sure my heart wouldn’t get broken by the beautiful, smart girl I truly loved and who wrote me exquisite letters from where she had moved for a job. That was that. Years later, I’m cleaning out Mom’s house, and I come across her letters. There was one I hadn’t read. I opened it, and it was letter from her saying she wanted to start a family with me someday, but it was too late. ––Barry, 48.

Most guys suck. Guys have to work really hard to not suck. And most just don’t want to work hard. I try not to suck, and I haven’t really had my heart broken yet.  But I’m sure even guys who suck will have their hearts broken. ––Joseph, 19

Oh of course. You must be asking because you’ve had your heart broken. But honey pie, all I have to say is that you’ve just gotta be better, not bitter. ––Elizabeth, 78.