I’m at my local gym between 4 & 5 days a week, depending on how many days I go for a run, or the weather. Not bragging, that’s just a part of my life these days. It’s been a part of life so long that it’s not even a question anymore. Not doing it would be like not eating or sleeping. It’s not because I have willpower or am that cool. It’s just that in 25 years or so, a habit gets pretty well established.

But that’s not what I’m writing about today.

I want to write about the couple. The couple in love. Real love.

I’m pretty consistent on my timing. I get up, have some breakfast, 2 cups of coffee, watch the news and some of Morning Footy on the Golazo network, then get my stuff together and get on the road. Mid-morning, ya know? And they are pretty consistent too. They are there just about every time I’m there, whether they are there when I walk in or they come in later. I didn’t notice them much at first. They don’t necessarily attract a lot of attention. They aren’t jacked, or noisy, or the gym “social butterflys”. They just come in, do their work and leave, as far as I can tell. But when you see the same people every time you walk in, you start noticing things. Like the little sub-groups, who are there for the social interaction as much as the workout, or the “gym experts”, who at the drop of a hat will give you the benefit of their self-appointed expertise, or the singers and talkers, who either don’t know or don’t care that you can hear them from 10ft away as they talk to their bluetooth counterparts, or just to no one at all, responding to their headphone music or motivational podcasts. But the couple in love aren’t any of those things. You’ve got to pay attention to notice them.

He’s got longish hair tied back in a pony tail. She’s tall, thin and carries herself with style. Which is challenging, given that she walks with a cane. And his longish hair is pure gray. When they come in, he always has a hand under her arm, helping her along. They move slowly, as folks in their 70’s tend to do. He could move faster, and does when he’s not helping her, but he’s with her until they get to their respective machines. Then they separate, each having their own resistance work to do. After they finish the resistance work, they go upstairs for their cardio workout. There is an elevator, but they take the stairs. And she does it on her own, though he is there watching. If I had to guess I’d say it’s part of the challenge she sets for herself. Then they get her settled on one of the stationary bikes. He’ll take another bike or do some walking on the treadmill. Then they’re back down the stairs and out the door, again, with his hand supporting.

I’ve never seen any version of PDA. Or maybe I see it every time I see them. Though I wouldn’t call it a “public display of affection”. I think I’d called it a “mutual display or affection”, because it’s between them, one to the other. Whether you see it or not? I don’t think it matters to them at all. I don’t know their back story. I don’t know whether they were high school sweethearts or found each other later in life. But I think they have the kind of love that many people aspire to.

I’ve never exchanged a word with either of them. But in the last month, if we are walking by each other, the man & I, we do that acknowledgement thing. A nod , or a “chin”, if you know what that is. I don’t talk to many people at the gym. I’m there to do my work. But when we connect for a second, I feel better about life.

That’s all I got this week.

Talk Later,

Bob