ONE POOL OF THOUGHT

I'm sitting in the jacuzzi at my health club, trying to summon enough courage to swim laps in the outdoor pool. Being early January, you're probably thinking, "wow, that's one tough dude" and as much as I'd enjoy that macho image, this is California, where we consider anything below fifty degrees frigid. But today, the weather is in the low thirties and I wish I'd gotten that fleece-lined Speedo.

I always sit in the whirlpool to stretch before my workout and since I arrive in the late morning to avoid the swim lane rush hour, I often end up sharing the spa, which holds up to ten people, with a group of senior citizens, who use a warmer indoor pool for aquatic physical therapy. Since it would be rude to ask, I'm guessing that most are in their late seventies or early eighties, making me a relative juvenile. Much as they say one way to feel thin is to hang out with fat people (I know, the word fat isn't politically correct), the same dynamic applies to staying young.

As some of these seniors shuffle or limp from the pool to the tub, it's obvious that their movements have become more childlike than adult. But whatever their physical limitations, most are still pretty sharp and love to chat. Many have outlived their spouses and almost all are retired, so a little fresh repartee is always welcome.

Once in the soothing cocoon of water, someone inevitably starts a conversation and I find myself sharing perspectives with people who have been around long enough to remember the introduction of radio and television, lived through a World War, created the American dream of the white picket fence and have now, been begrudgingly dragged into the digital age.

The discussions range from restaurants to religion, grandkids to global warming. Today's topic is politics and specifically, the new Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Being that she represents our home town of San Francisco, better known in conservative circles as the morally corrupt bastion of the liberal Left, there is a kind of personal investment in her performance, as she leads the House's opposition to the war in Iraq. It's always been hard to find a Bush supporter in the whirlpool, yet due to a lifelong habit of patriotic deference, the harshest name I've heard in reference to our Commander-in-Chief is "dimwit." But this week, respect for the nation's highest office has been diminished by dismay at the latest missteps, and the term "idiot" was actually uttered by one of the jacuzzi gang.

There's one thing that has always struck me during our discussions and that's the subtle undercurrent of optimism. You would think these seniors has seen enough pain and suffering in their lifetimes to have become resigned to the fact that life ain't fair and that the good guys don't always win. World War II was the last time there was a clear moral victory for America in any major global conflict and in contrast, their own children grew up during the Vietnam War and their grandchildren are spending their Wonder Years watching Gulf Wars I and II. On some days, it must seem like that white picket fence is barely standing.

Considering the current state of local, national and world affairs, it would be fairly understandable if these seniors had lost faith. But hope really must spring eternal because somehow, they haven't given up on democracy. Now, they're hedging their bets on Pelosi, hoping that a grandmother of six and her legislative allies can whip some sense into this Administration. I fight the temptation to say that arguing or negotiating with people who are stuck in a state of denial is an exercise in futility, because deep down, I also want to believe that a combination of public opinion and Congressional action can actually stop the madness in Iraq. Listening to the dialogue in the tub, I wonder if it takes courage or naïveté to be an optimist in times like this. Isn't experience supposed to bring wisdom?

So as I prepare to head outside to hit the pool, I look around at their deeply-lined faces and see past the gray hair and sagging muscles. With their health and vitality on a downward spiral, they certainly have good reason to embrace fear and hopelessness. Yet they're still giving life their best shot and while their bodies may be breaking down, their spirits are strong. If they can continue to trust in the democratic process, we owe to them and to future generations, to get in the damn game, rather than stand on the sidelines and complain about poor coaching and bad calls by the officials. Whether it's calls or letters, e-mails or blogs, rallies or petitions, it's time for us to take our best shots.

I climb out and wish my comrades a good day. Before I know it, I'll be the one gingerly lowering myself into the warm water, grateful for the temporary relief from aches and pains. In the meantime, I've got to not only swim my laps, but make sure I walk my talk. Hope needs regular exercise, too.