Biker Chick

On one side of the road - fifty or so motorcyclists. 

Leather wearing, beard blowing, beer for breakfast, grit goggled cyclists.

On the other side of the road - two tandem bicyclists.

Spandex wearing, head helmeted, V8 juice in hand, grit goggled cyclists.

Biker - You ride that thing?

Me - Yep.

Biker - Looks like hard work.

Me - It is.

Biker - Grunt of respect.

Yeah, that's right...I'm a biker chick.

Tasteful Endings - Book Break Two

The School of Essential Ingredients -
A Novel by Erica Bauermeister

A few years ago someone introduced me to a radical concept -
writing in books.
I know some would shriek - Shock, Horror -
but for those of us who cannot recall a chapter, or even a page,
writing, underlining, scribbling on the sides of pages,
on jacket flaps, covers,
and above the author's words themselves,
has not only been helpful to me,
it has opened doors.
(For those who may recall and question,
this is not the reason
I broke up with my library.)
So in my copy of "Essential Ingredients",
you would come across pencil stars, highlighted sunbeams,
and the occasional drawn ellipse around an entire paragraph.

The author provides so many opportunities for personal insight:

"...when you are honest about what you are doing, 

I find care and respect follow more easily."

"Marriage is a leap of faith. You are each other's safety net."

"People change.....'I think that's what we're both counting on.'"

"...there are many kinds of love and not all of them are obvious, 

that some wait, like presents in the back of the closet, until you are able to open them."

and my favorite:

"...worship at the altar of clarity..."

All these thoughts were seeds for conversations and contemplation.

The one that made me stop in my tracks was this:

"'C'est fini?' Lillian was touching her shoulder gently, a stack of 

used plates in her hand.

Helen raised her eyes to meet Lillian's.

'Oui,' she replied, her voice soft. 'Merci.'

And passed her plate to Lillian."

This is a farewell in it's most simple form. 
How many things in our lives have we had to finally relinquish?
Relationships, hurts, anger, ideals, hopes,
notions, events, and bad hairstyles.
Instead of holding on to those things, at the risk...well, of risk,
or change and the unknown - let go.
No gnashing of teeth, no pleading a deal, just elegance, grace,
and a tasteful release.
If only we could stack the things whose times have come,
pass them along, and be thankful for it.
Merci.

Book Break One - Introductions

I'm a slow reader.  Actually, I'm a very slow reader. 
I am also an eclectic reader. 
I read a variety of books,
fiction, nonfiction, historical novels, autobiographies,
books for smaller people.
I suffer from HTFI - (have to finish it),
so there are books that lay in wait
for me to complete that second half,
whether I like it or not,
or even last chapter before it goes on a shelf.

 








I buy books, from anywhere.
(I broke up with my local public library two years ago).
In fact, on our travels I found two used book shelves in the
Chamber of Commerce Gift Shop in Hooker, OK.
(Their prize T shirt states:  A LOCATION NOT A VOCATION...just to clarify).
On that trip I purchased three paperbacks.  Interest had me leave behind The Time Machine,
and weight had me deposit War and Remembrance.
The last remained - my sisters call it "a bathtub book",
and I've already forgotten the title.

My mother was fascinated by books.
Coffee table books were perfect Christmas gifts for her.
Like my mother, my house holds books in twos, fives, or twenties strewn all around.
Jeff has long ago given up the thought of having books live in shelves.
My books are like companions, they rest by a chair,
patiently waiting for my return;
they perch on a table,
hoping to be the next one to rest in my hands;
they lay by my side of the bed, knowing that
eventually
I will complete their tale.







  
Many stories I read always leave a piece of themselves with me.
The first portion of this blog's title is "Books".
The books I will write about here are important to me -
they've left me with a quote or a question.
This is not intended to be a book review - because - truthfully,
like everything else,
I'll only talk about the ones I liked enough to let settle in
my heart or head.

It's just me sharing, and maybe
starting a conversation.

Things aren't always what they seem...

Have you ever been sure of something or someone,
only to be proven sadly wrong, or happily right on the money?
Have you ever had to do a double take on something seen or heard?
Have you ever questioned your reasoning,
only to then have it be confirmed again a moment later?

Do you see what I see?

Oh good, I'm not alone.

(For the record...I think it looks like a giraffe.)

Me and My Shadow

It's taken weeks of dedication, but I have finally lost all my tan.  Okay, maybe not all, but I can go out in a bathing suit now without the tri-tone thighs.  I apply sunscreen on both sides of my body, instead of the one side that gets the sun throughout an entire day on the bike.

 One of the things I notice is the play of shadows now as both time of year and location have started to shift for us. 

On tour, shade was a rare commodity,
so our our shadows were small, close and tight.

Out east, our shadows loom long and dark, while out west - they were barely a mark on the pavement.

Now as I wander, once again on two feet instead of two wheels - my image is set. 
In Peter Pan, the Darling children are always losing their shadows,
Peter cries when his runs away, and Wendy knows how attach them. 
There are theories out there as to the meaning of those shadows - whether images of childhood innocence and fantasy or the premonition of pending adulthood and it's responsibilities. 
All I know, is when we're riding, we're flying...and for the moment - we won't grow up.

 

Landing

It has been exactly fifty six days since we have landed home from "tour".  But who's counting?
In this time Jeff and I have, as best we could, returned to our lives...
I won't even use the word "normal".
This transition has included family events and visits, large and small,
countless emails and meetings, fulfilling job obligations whether
new business - old business - or fix it business,
 and the feeble attempts to get back in the saddle, while resisting the pull of the "have to's".
We are exceptionally good at "shoulding" on ourselves.

We have been asked if we had fun on our trip.  
Honestly, I just don't know how to answer that.
I know this - I am so thankful to have done what I did,
have seen what I have, and met who I have.
Wise Tracy had mentioned a time or two, that the tour
changes people.
Sometimes it's an immediate change;
I no longer eat meat - thanks Dalhart, TX.
Sometimes it takes the passing of time to be able to discern
what changes have occurred.

I spend more times outdoors.  I have a choice of underwear and shoes.
Jeff can go in the lake. Jeff can go for his runs.
We have an endless supply of fresh vegetables.
We no longer have an automatic refill of Chamois Cream.
Our endurance is better.
Our family has access to us again.

However - at least once a week, one of us verbalizes what
we both have thought at least a couple times to ourselves...
it was easier on tour.
It has been exactly fifty six days
since we have landed home from "tour".
But who's counting?

Hindsight

Old habits are hard to break.
If you recall, it was required that all riders have some sort of rear view mirror, for safety of course.
True to all the other advice given by Wise Tracy, and her band of merry staff, this advice was sound and true.
I can no more imagine driving my car without rear view mirrors,
than I can now ride even our "short loop" without my tiny mirror.
I relied on that backward vision to keep us protected, and provide valuable information.
I no longer had to strain my neck in my imitation of an owl,
just to see if the sound I heard was a semi or a Subaru.
(It makes a difference - believe me.)
My mirror was attached to my biking sunglasses - close and personal vision.
My eyes would sweep from vista to rear view,
automatically and unconsciously, admiring and alerting.
That hindsight saved my neck, my anxiety, and perhaps my life.
It became a habit...a good one.

Yesterday, I was walking through a busy parking lot, trying to remember where I set my car.
(Yes, I am old, and am three-forgotten-moments short of tying a bow on my antenna for easy detection.  Only, they don't have those anymore.)
There are cars and pedestrians everywhere.
My eyes lift up and sweep left to see what perils await,
only to catch myself in the realization
that not only do I not have those specific glasses on,
I am walking...not riding.

The only person who realizes this is embarrassing is me.

And now you...go ahead, laugh.  I did.