SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - They are the dinosaurs of the American landscape. Once a vibrant part of our social fabric, they will someday be extinct. In fact, there is only one roller rink left in San Diego -- Skateworld in Linda Vista -- and on Tuesday mornings, seniors like Betty Bahr still lace up the quads and glide away the years.
"I started skating when I was in high school. I'm 86 this year," she said.
She drives in from Rancho Bernardo every Tuesday to be part of the senior scene.
"This is very important. Not only is the exercise important, but all of our friendships and camaraderie. We've been skating with these people 25 years, 30 years, same group," Betty said.
And even though Betty sees these folks every week, she's amazed at their skill level. Joyce Desrochers is in the "in crowd."
"I'm a regular here. I hate to miss," she said. "Physically it's good exercise. If you skate for two hours, you have had your exercise for the day."
Joyce is amazed at the agility of the Geritol Generation.
"Almost everybody can go backwards, and some people are out there dancing and doing different things," Joyce said.
John "Ace" Short and his wife Donita met at a roller rink when he was 18 and she was 15.
"A young man came over to me and he said, 'Would you like to skate?' and he pops and says, 'She's mine,'" Donita said.
They've been married for 64 years.
In the circle of life, the rink's hey day is over. But these seniors know that exercise maintains them and friendships sustain them. So they'll be back here next Tuesday morning, because that's how they roll.
