Silent Morning

September 18th, 2008; 8:06 PM

Current mood:breezy

      What is there to comment on? I have no idea. Life is going. I've been enjoying my rides. This morning, the ride in seemed so quiet. It was strange. Almost like I had lost my sense of hearing or something. I couldn't believe that the world was so quiet. It felt like the world was on the inside of some sort of joke and I wasn't getting it...like you all were at the party, and I just had my invite eaten by the dog without my ever noticing. It was sunny and silent. Like a dream. And then I saw Bree and Aidan for the first time in months. She was walking him to school. They were running late. Aidan's little voice was one of the first things I remember hearing this morning. He was talking the whole way as his mom escorted him to school. Bree had a new haircut. And I rode by.

     At the next big turn onto Highway 12, a bus cut in front of me and then stopped. I was annoyed. It was blocking the whole lane and side of the road that I ride on, so I rode around on the left and passed the bus by. Then it sped up, and honked at me, stopping again at the next light. "Stupid bus" I grumbled to myself, as I again prepared to pass him on the left. The bus driver opened his window and put out his hand waving his fingers at me in a dainty little "toodle-ooo" kind of way. Perplexed by this action, I slowly coasted to a stop next to his window. It was Gene! He's one of my favorite customers from my weekend job. Every time I see him and his family, they make me laugh so much. They just banter back and forth, in such a high-spirited manner, always making quick remarks that make people smile and enjoy their company. "You're looking pretty good out there." (I was glad to know I didn't look like a complete novice. –Even though I am. J) At this point, I've logged in about 300 miles on my bike at least. It's pretty cool if you really sit and think about it. I just started riding not too long ago. Seeing him made my morning.

     I rode to work, taking the short and dangerous route on the Highway. Getting to the top of that hill was easy. Right before I began to go downhill, I threw my bike into the hardest gear I could, and coasted full speed. "She had to get new teeth." I could hear Niki's words in my head. She told had told me about another girl who used to work here before me, and how she used to ride to work until her wheel came off, and she took a really bad spill. Those words haunted me. They kept me extra cautious, and tempered my speed on the downhill runs. -But not today. The cold wind on my face felt exhilarating, and I peddled as hard as I could beginning even before I reached the bottom of the grade, so that I could keep as much momentum as possible. I was going fast enough that switching into the left hand turn lane was easy (even on the highway), and I came in quickly to my destination.