Butterfly Woman

There's this woman who occasionally works out at the Y when I'm there.  For some time now, I've thought that she annoyed me but I just realized she doesn't.  I'm quite pleased with this revelation.  I was somewhat troubled that I could be so easily annoyed with someone who I don't know and have never spoken to.  It made me feel more than a bit shallow.  As it turns out, she doesn't annoy me.  She just makes me uncomfortable.

I first noticed this person a few months ago.  I was running on a treadmill and she sat down at an exercise bike directly in front of me.  In this part of the gym all the equipment faces the same direction, toward some large-screen TVs on the wall.  At this point, I was looking at the TVs and I did not really notice this person.  I think I first took note of her when she raised both hands high above her head.  A quick stretch, I assumed.  After holding both hands directly above her head for a few seconds, she slowly brought them down in a sweeping motion - arms straight out, elbows locked - until hers arms were sticking out at her sides, like an airplane.  Okay, this seems like a bit of a "notice me" maneuver and although I did notice her I tried hard to remain focused on the TV.  After a few seconds in "airplane mode", she brought her arms in and I assumed the elaborate stretching was done and she would just work out like a normal person.  I was wrong.

Imagine a woman sitting in a meadow with dainty butterflies flitting around her head.  Now imagine her slowly reaching up and suddenly snatching a butterfly and then slowly lowering her arm and flicking the butterfly onto the ground.  Imagine her doing it over and over again.  Now imagine that she isn't in a meadow but instead is sitting on an exercise bike in a gym.  There are no butterflies - at least none that the rest of us can see.

The first time I witnessed the "butterfly episode" I don't think it bothered me too much.  But after seeing it on multiple occasions I find myself unable to not watch her - even when she uses a bike on the far side of the room.  Over time, I've found that I prefer working out when she is not present.  As I think about it now, I regret to admit that it isn't just discomfort.  She does annoy me.