What Is the Deal?

I go to Curves. It's Curves for Women. That's the name of it, you know.

So on my recent ten days away from home, I used my visitor pass and went to Curves in Centerville, Utah, and Curves in Provo, Utah.

I also went to Curves in Orem, Utah, and that's what this is about.

I walked in and saw a man sitting at the computer, thought he was there to work on some computer problem, and waited for the manager to come and check me in as a visitor. She was talking.

Finally, she came. But in the meantime, the man--wearing workout gloves, I guess you call them--had left the computer and walked to the machines and had begun "his" workout. Also in the meantime, the one other woman in the place left.

I said to the manager, "Is this Curves for Women?" I knew the answer, of course, and she did not catch the tone of my voice.

"Yes, it is," she said all proudly, like I might be wanting to join.

"Is that a woman?" I asked.

"Oh, we can't discriminate. We could get sued." And so on and so forth.

And someone I told this to said you all should have just been so loud and driven him out. Maybe, but it was just him and me. I did not want to jiggle around the room with him.

"The whole purpose of this place is for women to be able to work out without men. Right? So that the women can feel safe and comfortable. Right?"

"Well, yes it is, but we can't discriminate. Have you heard of AARP's Silver Slippers program?"

"No. But I see the sign in your window."

"Yes. We have senior couples coming in, too, every evening." Obviously, she thought I'd pop back in that night with hubby. I didn't explain. And I don't like it when people lob me over into the "old" pile.

"And this does not bother anyone?" I asked.

I guess she could see I wasn't about to be placated or swerved. "Well," she said, again, "we can't discriminate."

Okay, I get it. But I can discriminate. I didn't stay.

By the way, I wasn't nasty about it.

My questions are these:

• Why does he want to come to a women's gym and workout? The machines are, I'd have to say, womanly, after all. And it isn't cheaper than, say, Gold's or Planet Fitness or whatever. It really isn't.
  

• Is his longish gray hair, layered and cut just so, an indication that he is gay? Look. I'm happy for gay people to be gay. I just don't want men at Curves. Gay or straight. Get it?
  

• Shouldn't Curves get some kind of Corporation by-laws or something that says, NO MEN?

Come on, don't get after me. I like men. I married one. I have four sons. I like them. I love them. But I go to Curves for my workout and I don't want men there. And that is final.