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So, it all started for me way back in the late 80s. My mixed doubles tennis partner told me she and her husband had started doing aerobics. And for me, the visual of aerobics was women jumping around in a room with Disco blasting. Seriously.

Sylvia shared her husband Julian found high impact aerobics difficult; since I was familiar with his tennis game, I answered, “No surprise” (I’ve always gained endorphins when talkin’ smack.) I received a Julian call minutes later, and a request to meet up for an aerobics challenge. We took a class. 10-minutes into the warm-up, I was looking down at a puddle of sweat. The aerobics scene was dominated by serious, athletic women. I signed up for membership on the way back out to my car.

I’ve been a gym rat ever since. And I had no clue how many friends I would make or how “going to the gym” would become so therapeutic, especially during those trying times we all experience and never see coming.

In 1976, 3-months into my new practice, I saw my dad suffer a fatal heart attack on an awful March Saturday night I’ll never forget. Within 6-months, I’d administered CPR on the golf course, twice. For several years, I was stressed by any and all who seemed like typical cardiovascular events waiting to happen. A decade or so later, an unlikely trip to the gym made a difference.

Both mom and dad had Type II Diabetes. One school of medical thought assumed I’d eventually have diabetes as well. My favorite Endocrinologist Doc/patient didn’t believe in assumptions and I love her, even though it’s been years since my last sighting. The Doc encouraged me to keep on keepin’ on with cardio exercise. So far, so good…over 20-years later.

My gym visits from Arcadia All Pro to Brignoles to Bodies in Motion to Equinox Fitness were the anti-depressant magic I needed through my mom’s extended illness and all the unwanted small business surprises that have followed during the last 20-years, especially the last one. Hadn’t figured on a pandemic. Never thought I’d own a Peloton…or cycle in my living room.

This morning, I walked down the stairs wearing the same workout shorts and long sleeve tee from the day before. I logged-in, clicked-in, selected a 30-minute class, and saw the usual Cadence, Output, and Resistance emerge across the screen. The instructor was beautiful. Period.

And I usually turn off the volume, mostly because I’d rather be listening to/watching ESPN or CNN instead of tracking the time countdown more often than I should. But what about Hannah?

Hannah’s muted mouth was moving nonstop and there’s just not that much to say about riding a stationary bike. And at least during long phone conversations I get to throw in “Yeah” or “Hmmm” or even a carefully selected “I agree” once in a while. Hannah put on some dance moves, stretches, and other acrobatics achieved while coasting during what seemed like an audition for Fame, part II. If posing and smiling while riding and not sweating was an Olympic event, Hannah would be going for the Gold.

By the way, my personal 20-minute best came straight outta one-third of an hour of annoyance, fueled by an awkward goofy looking guy “dancing” with no hands on the handlebar about 50% of the time.

At Pasadena Equinox, the woman spin instructors are actually the kick-ass, hard-working studs and thankfully; none of the guys attempt dancing or speaking much while cycling.

After surviving Hannah, I treated myself to Huevos Yucatan at Yahaira’s Café. As I walked back to my car, I saw someone familiar approaching up Colorado Blvd. A serious athletic young woman asked, “When are you coming back to Equinox?”

Even though the joint is corporate and one of the major minority owners throws parties for Trump, I've been a member since 2001 and it’s my friends I miss more than the stationary bikes and the roomful of mirrors. And so what if I’m a founding member and haven’t received a single call, text, or email from the should-be-desperate fitness corporation; maybe wearing the same gym clothes every day without paying for parking hasn’t been the experience I thought it would be?

As soon as I finish this dissertation, I’m tagging @equinox (I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re charging me.) But I still may have to give Hannah one more chance.