I was riding today, a really ridiculously fun and difficult kinda ride, when I thought about the sheer irony that I don't think I've ever really seen someone address. I mean, I'm sure someone else has "got it" before, but for me it was a pretty fun moment. Do you realize that many are going poor and the environment is in shambles because of, essentially, dinosaurs (petroleum coming from long-dead organic matter, etc)? That the enviornmental impact if you believe it (and I do), if unchecked, could essentially destroy the planet?
Essentially a organism that was wiped out by a event we're still not completely sure of is about to wipe us out themselves? Is it mother nature going "HEY, WAKE UP!" or maybe rather, a way of the earth cleansing itself? Kinda interesting to think of.
I mean if we kill it, we'll never see something like what I saw last weekend above. Which was, absolutely gorgeous. I think if everyone experienced that, and then were given a choice of either death by natural disaster or giving up their pollutants - we'd have a auto graveyard problem to deal with.
Switching gears, this morning something really made me happy. In a rather nice moment with my wife, she was hugging me and said "hey, I can get my arms around you - and lock my fingers!" At least, I think she said that. I could be wrong, but this is the first time that's happened in.. forever. The last time I noticed was junior high, some 18 years ago, a female being to wrap her arms around me completely. I told her that I couldn't have done it without her (her, of course, being my wife not the then-flame who I'm not exactly sure of the name), which is absolutely true. They say behind every great man is a great woman, I never put much stake into that until I was married, now I know it to be absolute truth. Without her I never would be here, period. I made some great strides on my own, but she's pushed me through the really tough stretch that has been the past two (plus) years of not having a doctor mandated meal plan to back me up.
I celebrated that with a 50 minute "GIVE 'EM HELL, SOLDIER" kinda ride. I had about that much time to get a ride in, as I had a 9am consulting gig, so I grabbed a fistfull of gear (literally) and set to hammering out some miles. It was probably the hardest 13 miles I've ever done, I about collapsed as I crested Calvert and 48th, but also the most cleansing. Next week, one week from today, 125 miles of gravel madness starting at 6am.
I can't wait!
3 comments:
When you get a chance you should pick up "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and check it out. Fossil fuels and our food sources are so interlinked it is kind of leading into another illogical mess.
http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/the_transition_handbook:paperback
Excellent, thanks Butch, both of those look really interesting. In fact, looks like Gere has a copy, I should make a little jaunt over there this week and pick it up.
It's another amazingly interesting contradiction, that we - in NEBRASKA are dependent upon fuel to deliver our food. Guilty as all others on this one, but hey, at least that's one thing Lincoln has going for it - it's surrounding by farms! :)
Post a Comment