Friday, April 5, 2013

What a difference a ride makes: from ruinous to joyful



I drove my daughter to school this morning and, by car, it looked like a rather ruinous day with rain and wind and lots of stuff blowing around.

Later when I got out on my bike, it seemed more like a beautiful spring morning.  The type of morning that makes me promise things like: I'll never take for granted the beautiful green canopy of trees just starting to leaf. Or I'll get started riding earlier (because I've always wished I'd left earlier once I'm out on the road.)  Or I won't forget to be grateful to my body for taking me all sorts of places (or the bike fitters that enabled me to ride with a challenging knee, but that's another post).  That sort of thing.

So the difference by car and then by bike was quite notable.

Yes, it's raining and windy, but also kind of exciting out there in Seattle today.  I hope you can find time for a ride!

As I finished writing these words, there was that happy little 'tink' sound from Facebook and I received the following message (slightly edited to hide the person's identity and used with the author's permission):

Hi, Donna - Thanks again for pointing me to your biking blog. For the blog, yes, but more importantly for the message from the universe. <smile>

I haven't posted about it in sunny FB land, and I haven't told many of the people I know (not even my own mom), but I was recently diagnosed with epilepsy. Beyond the shock and awe of what the hell is happening to my brain, I'm also not allowed to drive for quite a while - they've even suspended my license. (Just think the words "school carpool" and you can imagine what bomb this has been in my family life.)

So, I've been eyeing my bike. Beyond a valid means of transportation (I've never wanted to go to the gym so fervently), it would expand my range and give me a much needed change of scenery. It could also be one small thing that ultimately I could be grateful for in this whole experience - because I'm skeered. I don't want to wear head-to-toe spandex, I don't want to wear a helmet, I don't want to tackle the hills, and I definitely don't want to be hit by a car. So getting past those barriers and getting on to a bike would be a life-changing thing for me - and your blog is inspiring me to do it.

I'll keep reading your blog, and thinking, and imagining. And heck, maybe I'll also get myself down to Recycled Cycles and get a decent bike.

Thank you, thank you.


Such a moving message on so many levels.  The small part that is relevant to this blog is that I am a reluctant blogger--it seems just a bit silly and self-indulgent at times and I am still very much a novice at it.  After reading something like that it gives me the courage to click"publish."  As the next text message said:

The reluctant blogger meets the reluctant biker. Fate!

And a wonderful reminder of how we all inspire each others in so many ways.

Thank you, thank you.

3 comments:

  1. Ha! I found you. Donna, you are an inspiration to me. I am always amazed at how many wonderful things you manage to fit into your life.

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    1. Good job! I was just going to email you a link and you beat me to it!

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  2. Yay, Donna! I love your Bloggy McBloggerson!

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