Randy Stephenson

One might ask “why?” when asked  about the Y. That might be answered with my own story. 

I am retired, and have become less active as time went on. I have had a side job working security at various locations, but have been largely sedentary at home, especially after getting one knee partially replaced, and the other knee developing arthritis and bursitis. 

I had to start walking with a cane. That assistance became a dependency. My granddaughter is the aquatics director at the Northwest YMCA, and she suggest I explore a water aerobics class, so I started attending. 

What I didn’t count on was, in addition to helping my physicality, I met new people that I genuinely enjoyed. People like Balbir from India, who is an artist who, because of macular degeneration, cannot see his own paintings, but has been selling those paintings to raise money for people in underprivileged countries to have access to glasses. Or Cary, who, like me, was a graphic artist. Or Sue, who goes to another class and joins us when hers is over. 

I probably would not have come to these classes on my own, but boy am I glad I did!