A regular at my usual Friday morning "kickboxing" group fitness is a lady named "Patricia". She is leaner than most of us and will tell you she's over 60. Many years ago I used to show, well, certain anxieties in group fitness settings and I knew at least one lady like this who set me straight. Now Pat always says a cheery hello and I get that nice sense of being respected as a participant and good citizen.

Pat's not enthralled with President 43 or 44 or either party; politics is not a usual topic, though, but as I entered the floor last Friday she was chatting with our instructor and shaking her head about Nancy Pelosi's expensive jet trips. When we got to talking I mentioned my current consideration of retirement, helped by the two-year handshake and, the one that would set her off, my percentage being figured from a higher paying position I held during the 90's. As I said, she got a bit indignant: her mother had been shafted on retirement vis a vis an unfavorable policy. To be sure, she didn't go after me, certainly from her tone, but proceeded to invoke a stereotype of our times, that of civil servants running off with platinum handshakes while flashing smug smiles illuminated by jeweled teeth.

I was a non-typical male in canning my protests and when she finished, well, it was time for the warm up and then punches and kicks at what is always hoped to be abstract targets. If I retire I may get reacquainted with some evening group fitness, although in my chroniclings of the topic since the early 80's Friday afternoon and evening classes have entered the deserted metropolis of "pau-city".
Politics is not perchance the great social mixer either side of class. As to religion . . .