When you think of assisted living drama, you might imagine arguments over Bingo prizes or the remote control in the common room. But at the Good Samaritan Society Westview Acres in Waconia, Minnesota, a new kind of feud has erupted, and it is absolutely delightful. A group of spirited seniors has launched a hilarious "battle of the sexes," centered entirely around who can spin the best yarn. Welcome to the saga of the rival B.S. Clubs of Waconia, where the coffee is hot, but the gossip is even hotter.
The Men Start the Trouble: Boys with Stories
It all began with Gerry Bjorlo and a few of the guys looking for a place to shoot the breeze. They started gathering twice a week for coffee, discussing everything from the unpredictable Minnesota weather to memories of the good old days. Naturally, they needed a name for their little syndicate. Gerry and his cohort, Nick Kranz, settled on the "B.S. Coffee Club."
To the men, the initials stood for exactly what you think they did—good old-fashioned "bullsh—t." However, Denise Leonhardt, the life enrichment director at Westview Acres, had to put a slightly more polite spin on it for the official activities calendar. She dubbed them "Boys with Stories." While the administrative rebrand was well-intentioned, the men weren't having it. As Nick Kranz bluntly put it, they prefer the original, saltier meaning. It was a space for men to be men, swap tall tales, and escape the polite decorum of the dining hall for an hour or two.
The Administrative "Cover-Up"
Leonhardt admits she tried to sanitize the name to keep things "politically correct" for the families and staff. "I have a different meaning for those two words," she laughed in a recent interview. But the "Boys with Stories" moniker never really stuck with the members. They knew what they were there for: unadulterated, unfiltered B.S.
The Women Strike Back: Beautiful and Successful
As the men's club gained traction, the women of Westview Acres began to feel left out. Why should the guys have all the fun? According to Leonhardt, "The ladies were jealous." They saw the camaraderie, the laughter, and the distinct lack of female supervision happening at the men's table, and they decided to take action.
Enter Jackie Hutchings and Jean White, the ringleaders of the resistance. They formed their own chapter of the club, hijacking the acronym for their own purposes. They are the "Beautiful and Successful" ladies. "That's what we are," Hutchings declared, setting the stage for a delightful elderly gossip rivalry that has energized the entire facility.
The Showdown: Tables Five Feet Apart
Now, the scene at Good Samaritan Society Westview Acres is one of playful segregation. Both B.S. Clubs meet on the same days, at the same time, sitting at round tables deeply entrenched in their respective territories—just five feet apart. It is a visual representation of the classic "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" trope, but played out by the greatest generation.
The proximity allows for plenty of cross-table banter and eavesdropping. While the men might be grumbling about the Vikings or the price of gas, the "Beautiful and Successful" ladies are dissecting the latest community news with a level of precision that would make the CIA jealous. The rivalry is friendly but fierce, proving that senior citizen humor is alive and well.
Viral Fame via Land of 10,000 Stories
This charming local skirmish might have stayed within the walls of Westview Acres if not for the keen eye of Boyd Huppert and his legendary KARE 11 segment, Land of 10,000 Stories. Huppert, known for finding the profound in the ordinary, highlighted the clubs in a feature that aired just yesterday, catapulting the B.S. Club Waconia into the spotlight.
The story resonates because it highlights a universal truth: we all need connection. Whether you call it "bullsh—t" or being "Beautiful and Successful," the act of gathering, sharing stories, and poking fun at the opposite sex keeps the spirit young. As birds flock together outside the facility's windows, the residents inside are proving that life is simply better when you have a club of your own—and a rival to laugh at.
So, if you're ever near Waconia and hear raucous laughter coming from Westview Acres, don't worry. It's just the B.S. Clubs holding court, proving that you're never too old to stir up a little trouble.
