thursday = day off.
no class today. doing a bit of work, with sufjan in my ears. helen is by my side, and we're sitting at cafe mundi. after a week of being sick and not working out (maria is also on vacation), my body was aching for some movement today. and so we hopped on our bikes and rode 4 miles to our favorite coffeeshop by the railroad tracks. my legumes were very happy to work. the ride that used to leave me winded now leaves me wanting more. i want to pedal and pedal and explore austin like i explored erie as a kid.
if there is anything i am learning from my experiment in living healthier, it's the reconnection with place. until i got my first car at age 19, i was very aware of place and distance. my main modes of travel had always been walking, biking, or bussing. i was intimately acquainted with the terrain of my city. i had an unconscious respect for time: you had to allow lots of time to get from point A to point B. and there was never an opportunity to simply zone out on the journey. my senses were always awake with city smells, sights, and sounds. wherever i was, i was there.
and then i forgot. self-contained in my little car, i turned up the music, stepped on the gas, and lost touch with distance, with place. erie became canton became nashville, and i never noticed a difference.
how far, how fast we can travel from home without sensing the journey at all.
on my badass bike now, i am remembering. i only travelled four miles today, but i did not miss a moment of the trip. my own legs have brought me from home to the coffeeshop. i was chased by a dog. i made eye contact with people in their yards.
i am awake.
(pee ess: gunnie seems to be rallying again. my little fighter.)
Posted by bananie at December 7, 2006 1:42 PM | TrackBack