From the Publisher & Editor-In-Chief

Well, it’s a new year, and gyms around the country are packed with people who’ve made exercising their resolution. Regular SL readers may know that I make a habit of going to the gym every morning, and unless I’m traveling, that gym is the Mordoh Fitness Center at the JCC Indianapolis. Although I’d like to think it’s because I’m very disciplined, reality is that I love seeing the other regulars there, and the staff – it’s become a little like family.

The “J” is a melting pot of people of all races, religions and ages, but at the fitness center in the early mornings, it’s usually the same crowd every day, mostly older, mostly retired (though now that I’m 60, they’re not all that much older). I have a perfectly good treadmill at home in my basement, but, being the people person I am, the thought of working out alone in an empty room just doesn’t appeal to me. It’s much more motivating to know that I’m going to see familiar faces that have become friends as we’ve toiled together on the treadmills, ellipticals and bikes.

There’s Bob, the retired marketing director who chats me up every morning. He’s an outgoing guy who comes with his retired writer wife, Beth. She’s delightful, and comically tells me I’m a saint for stopping to talk. Though I always enjoy our conversations and look forward to them, I’ve learned to make a beeline for the treadmill, otherwise Bob and I will chat for 30 minutes. I’ve also learned that a lot of older folks just like to be listened to, and I think we owe them that. The J is a wise place like that. A lot of our members have lived long, full, and interesting lives.

If I’ve been away on business, there’s Dan, another retiree, who used to be in trucking, then produce, and for the last 24 years or so of his career, sold only onions, who always welcomes me back by introducing himself and sarcastically asking me my name. Dan walks the track at the fitness center daily, exactly 24 laps, never 25 or 23. Occasionally he’s joined by his wife, Sandra, a retired school teacher, and they walk the two miles hand-in-hand. I find it so sweet, and have asked my wife wistfully if one day, she’ll do that with me (this always elicits an eye-roll). There’s Leon, the retired car salesman, there every day like clockwork. As a kid, Leon was a newsboy, hawking papers in front of the old Hotel Lincoln. These days, at the J, he’s known as “the Patriarch.” And there’s Kevin, a former corporate security guy, and one of the proudest grandparents I’ve ever met. He’s just learning that 11-year-old girls spend the majority of their waking hours making TikToks (something that I, as a parent of teenagers, know all too well).

It’s occurred to me that the J is my “local”, kind of like Brits who have their local pubs. I’ve been a member as long as I can remember, and as of about a year ago, I’ve been a board member. It’s customary for photos of new board members to be flashed on the TVs in the fitness center, which, while flattering, has led some of my friends there to conclude that I have influence over crucial things in the gym like temperature, volume level of music, or even the actual songs played (I don’t). It’s resulted in some interesting conversations, but mostly I just nod and listen; as I said, I’ve learned that most people just want to be heard and acknowledged.

Of course, there’s the staff, too many to mention, but I thank them every morning, especially Linda and Danny, the custodians, for all they do (the J is spotless). I see Eric, the JCC CEO in the gym most mornings. I always greet him with “Shalom Aleichem” (peace unto you), and he always responds with “Aleichem Shalom” (it’s customary in Hebrew to return a greeting backwards).

When I walked in on my 60th birthday, Karen at the Welcome Desk gave me a card that she and Linda and Danny had signed (coincidentally, Karen and I share a birthday, so I brought her flowers). Every Friday, I buy the freshly baked challah sold at the J, and the next morning, I usually bring the staff goodies made with the leftover bread, like challah French toast. I love showing appreciation for the JCC’s amazing team. The hearts and souls of the place, though, are my friends I see at the gym each morning. They’re “my people”, and I can’t imagine starting my day without them.

Jeffrey Cohen jeff@slmag.net