Beach Day #6

Hot, humid Lake Michigan
Was before me
But this time
I was prepared

Walking up to the tent
The Aussie recognized me
"You're finally ready to do it?"
He asks

I smile back and say
"Yeah, it only took me three times
To think about it."
But, today was the day

Even though I could swim
I got a life vest
It hugged my chest
Tightly and securely

"Don't be afraid to fall in,
He said, "You probably will."
"It's fine,"
But I lied

I didn't want to fall in
Even though the water was much
Warmer than other days
I didn't want to - fail

He carried the board
To the lake for me
Offered some advice
Sit on your knees, then get on all fours - and stand

Sounded easy enough
But the lake was a bit choppy

At first I didn't think
I was getting anywhere
Was I going in a circle?
I began to have doubts

Eventually I made my way out
And decided it was time to try
And stand
Okay, you can do this

The width of the board
Was comforting
Plenty of room
I heard in my head, "Place feet here."

I began to stand
Wobbly, but upright
Paddle, damn it - he said it would be easier
When you kept paddling

I did
Wobble wobble
Left, right, left right
Crap, not going too well

For a few minutes
I was paddling
But then I sat back down
Licking my wounds a bit

But the summer heat and sun
Remained with me
I saw the lake shore from
A perspective I had never seen before

It was nice just being out

Sharing the Road; My Divvy Bike Experience

It’s been a year since I started Divvy, Chicago’s bike share program. At the time, I was looking for an easy, cheap, and quick way to go between UIC’s East and West Campus. Fortunately, the main buildings I went to had a station close by. The thing that sealed the deal was UIC’s Office of Sustainability then offered a $20 discount for students, too! So, that meant I could get a $55 for an unlimited, one-year membership. With a $7 day pass (now it’s gone up to $10), the one-year was a great deal.

My next big decision – what color helmet to get?! Done.

Some tips for new Divvy riders:

•      Ride in 3^rd gear;
•    Download the Divvy app, which shows stations and full/empty status;
•    Be mindful of pedestrians;
•    Save the Divvy phone number in your cell;
•    DO NOT ride your bike on the sidewalk, walk it – if needed;
•    DO NOT ride on Sheridan Road;
•    And, be mindful of your time.

I was pretty happy with Divvy during the school year. It definitely saved me time not using the bus, and it was fun riding a bike again. I hadn’t gotten on a bike since Germany.

Then, on June 1, Divvy significantly expanded their stations all the way to the north in Rogers Park! Very cool. There were two stations within two blocks from me.

The only thing that frustrates me is now the jockeying for road space. There’s cars, bikes, and foot traffic. Even with bike lanes, we all still need to look out for each other.

The other day, I was downtown, and I had just gotten on a Divvy. I walked it on the sidewalk and down to the street. The light was changing, but a pedestrian clearly thought he was going to walk in front of me, but couldn’t, since my bike was “in his way.” He gave me this look and motioned with his arms that “he was walking here.” However, I don’t see how, because there was traffic. He went behind me, then trying to still cross traffic against the light.

My first reaction was – what the hell? I was right, you were wrong. But, I tried not to let him ruin my summer, sunny day. He wasn’t worth it.

Beach Day #5

The sand molds to my butt
I bury my toes in deep
An anchor to the Earth

The water is so cold
That my legs are numb
My inside extremities are colder
Than I ever thought they could be

Kids are everywhere
I watch them
I see the parents
Who are playing with their kids

I see the parents who are texting on the phone

Lifeguards in
Play-like row boats
Stay the line

What am I watering- my sidewalk or my grass?

"Am I watering the grass or the sidewalk?" This is the reflective question I ask myself as I walk down the streets in my neighborhood. What am I doing with and in my life to water, feed, and nurture what needs to be nurtured? Or, am I doing things that - water my "sidewalk?" What is the concrete stuff in my life that I think I have to nurture, but really, the water either puddles up or runs off?!

This is a waste of water.

Journey Alone Now

I thought I was going to have
A partner on this journey with me

Someone who would
Compliment me
Be the in to my out
The day to my night

But it didn't seem
Like that's going to happen
We're too far apart
Hard to get back to each other

I tried
I think you tried
There were sessions
And self-help books

Thoughts that if we stayed together
One more month, year
It would work
Still

In the end
We both said
I love you, I'm sorry
Cried and hugged

Beach Day #4

Soft sand in places
I never thought it could be
Fine grains, I imagine
That I'm laying on gold

The sand molds to
All bodies
My body
My imprint

Sand in a box
Sand at a beach
Sand at an arts and crafts store
To be sold

As I walk back
The sand turns dry and gritty
On the pads of my feet
And blue, cheap flip flops

Space

Okay, okay – I will say it right away, I don’t mean space, like in Star Trek. That’s for another blog. I mean space, like the aisle airplane seat I gave up, when I was asked by an attendant coming back from Minneapolis to Chicago. After paying an extra $10 for a selected aisle seat, we were almost on our way, when I had a feeling that something was up, since an attendant was standing near me. The universe humbled me, after I thought – “Wow, you’re going to have extra room with no one beside you!”

Then she asked, “Would you mind scooting over. We have a situation.” A situation? What situation? “Is there another aisle seat I could have?” I asked. “Yes, but a few rows back,” she said. “Oh, nevermind, as I scooted over.” Her co-worker could tell I wasn’t too happy, and she brought me a bottled water and said, “Thank you for being so kind.”

Another gentleman then came down and sat in my seat. But was it my seat?

Sure, I paid for it. I expected it. I wanted an aisle. Ridiculous thoughts entered my head, such as – what if we crash, and the aisle sit lives, and the middle seated person dies? Or, this is a sign? Or, random reasons about the “situation.” Was it race related? Religious? I hadn’t heard of a fight. Why didn’t the guy move back to the further back aisle seat?

The only saving grace was the idea that I was a “kind” person. Good karma, I thought. Good karma. And, it’s okay if you don’t know about the situation. Trust the expert that it was needed.

I then took a few deep breathes and let it go.