BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – It’s 6 a.m. at the YMCA in Burlington, and Sue Paris is about to make a splash.
With her shocking blue hair and her singing, Paris is heading to her favorite place in the Queen City. “I got to get in there and begin class!” Paris said.
About a dozen — mostly women — will join the 71-year-old as part of her 40th year leading the morning water aerobics class. “It’s just a great group of people,” she said. “Anyone I can get in the water, I get into the water.”
Paris started as a volunteer in 1985, and it later became a paid position. “But I would do it without pay in a minute. I love it,” Paris said.
Singing is a must. “If they told me I couldn’t play music and teach, I’d have to quit,” she said. On this morning, Neil Diamond is in heavy rotation.
But there have been some hard times, too. Below Paris’ colored coif is a scar caused by a major fall in April. “I had 18 staples in the back of my neck. I had suppressed the spinal cord. It was killing me because I couldn’t get back to teach,” she said.
Paris was out of the pool for 12 weeks.
Reporter Joe Carroll: What was harder, the recovery or missing the class?
Sue Paris: Missing the class because I would sit home and cry because I knew they were all here.
“She’s been a lifesaver for many of us in the pool. She’s the reason I keep coming back,” said Brandi Barbeau, a regular in the class.
“All these people are part of my life, and I love Sue to death,” added Martie Ledoux.
“This is her life, and she always worries about us,” said Jane Weiss.
“Everyone is just so close,” said Kelly Dolan Meunier.
Reporter Joe Carroll: What’s the deal with the hair?
Sue Paris: The hair is… I worked for 50 years in managing, in banking, and financial, and I wasn’t allowed to have fun. I’d see people out on the street with purple hair, pink hair, and I always wanted to do my hair like this.
After 45 minutes, a relaxing tune to end the class — “It’s My Lucky Stars” — recorded by Bridget Ahrens, one of Paris’ students. “I sing this song morning noon, and night. I just love it,” she said.
Hanging above the pool is one of the four core values of the YMCA — Caring.
It’s what Sue Paris does — swimmingly.
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