Rooster in the Hen House
I’ve done the insane thing of committing myself to walk a thirteen mile marathon in October, with a couple of friends. It is crazy, since I’ve allowed myself to get out of shape and gain thirty pounds.So back into the gym I go, without a lot of enthusiasm. But I don’t want to let my friends down, while embarrassing myself with failure.When I work out, I prefer the men’s weight machines, because they are heavier and work me harder. Every morning I enter the dynasty of the men’s weight room, where I’m greeted by a regular population of roosters, who are primping and fluffing their egoes. Watching this big show at times is hilarious. The air is thick with testosterone and that fluff. They shout out opinions on sports, politics and just in general talk smack about everything and each other. Many of these men are my neighbors. There, I see a very different side to them. Gone is the image of them mowing lawns, taking the kids to soccer, and walking the dog. Frankly, I don’t think their there to gain muscle, but to act out the fantasy of what they perceive to be a real man. They curse, they grunt, they sweat, they talk that ever present smack. For a short hour in their life, they are the rooster in the hen house, if only in their minds, and nobody elses.The other day, while riding my bike, I came across the biggest rooster in the weight room. He was walking a little feathery white thing that has the attitude of a pit bull. I stopped and chatted as I fought off the mean little thing on a leash. In those moments, I saw why he becomes what he does in the gym. I believe it is the only time he can be the rooster in the hen house, because the rest of the time he’s just a hen.He looked at his watch, bid me fair-thee-well, because the wife was waiting for him at home to take her to see Mama Mia. He was mumbling and the little critter was yapping, I’m fairly certain that is what he said.As I rode off, with the wanna-be-pit snapping at my heels, I could only smile. I know from now on he will kiss my hopefully someday skinny butt, so I won’t blow his cover, allowing him to keep his rooster dream alive. Question of the Day: Have we tamed our men to much? Where they have to go to the gym or work to behave what they think might be the behavior of a real man. Why do you think men do this?
August 22nd, 2008
Lee 
in
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August 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
Love, love this story, Lee! It brought up so many memories for me. I used to work at a health club, and those guys you described were like my bosses. I swear, if I saw them strut up to the mirror and flex their muscles one more time, I was gonna barf right then and there. It makes no sense. To this day, I can’t stand too much muscle on a guy. Seriously, it ruined me for the club guys. LOL.
And my hubby isn’t tame, nor a rooster walker. He’s just a nice guy, that’s nice to have around. Come to think of it, our glimpse of the “club” gave us some valuable lessons ‘eh?
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:51 am
My husband is a nice guy too. He can be the rooster, but mostly he’s just a nice guy. But it is fun to watch these guys…I’ve been spent a lot of years in gyms and just never noticed it until now.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:26 am
I’ll admit, the “manly” part of the gym has never been my favorite hang out so I’ve never had a chance to observe, but I will say the whole “smack” thing has struck me as a “show” of manliness. I’ve never understood it, but they all do it, so it’s definitely something they take pride in. Very cool post, Lee!
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I think we’ve spent a generation telling men to be sensitive and get in touch with their feminine side until they are so confused they can only ‘act’ how they think they are supposed to.
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I think they might be a bit confused, but at least they have the gym to pretend for a short while everyday.
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:35 am
what Jill said. what ever happened to just letting men be men?
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Must be a macho thing. At least he took the wife to see Mama Mia.
August 24th, 2008 at 7:51 am
This would be fun to put in a book! I don’t go to health clubs, so didn’t know this, but it would be a great scene.
August 24th, 2008 at 9:05 am
I worked in a man’s world for years, and this is very true in most cases, even outside the gym. It’s were ever they can be manly men, with the wife looking on or listening.