The Bench

It all began as a running group. Those who dreamed of competing in the New York City Marathon had to train for the grueling 26.2-mile race. About 40 people met at the South End Pavilion of the Spring Lake Boardwalk every Saturday at 8 a.m. Anyone could join the group. A prayer was said. You could always find someone who wanted to go the same distance and pace as you, be it five miles in one hour or 18 miles in two and a half, there was always a partner to run with you.

Crazy enough, that was almost 50 years ago. Our group of marathoners reduced the distance to short local races. Eventually, walking was the fitness activity, until canes began to appear. It is important to note that this running background provides a broad basis for friendship. We have very different political views and income levels, yet there is a shared bond of trust and respect.

The running group evolved into the walking group, and now the chat group. We refer to ourselves as “The Bench” since we meet every Saturday, summer through winter, at a sheltered bench on the boardwalk. We also swap books, especially in history and science, and that sparks interesting conversations. Of course, we review the previous night’s "Jeopardy!” questions. Recently, the answer steered us to 12th-century Europe. We spent an hour discussing the Viking invasions and their early settlements. Two of us keep a phone handy to research and supplement our knowledge. We range in age from 75 to 90, and we watch out for each other. There are now fewer than 10 of us.

Our group likes to remember those who have passed on in our storytelling. We know how lucky we are sitting together, bathed in sunlight regardless of the temperature. Inspired by the ever-changing sea, we are sometimes delighted by the sighting of dolphins or even the occasional whale. The beauty of nature yanks each person out of bed in the morning. Sharing that appreciation of life with friends explains the magnetism of The Bench. It is a blessing.

Photograph by Patty Quinn and Michael Scotto