spring is here!

today is the first t-shirt day in a long, long, long time. i actually prefer sweater weather, but today is unbelievably gorgeous. i decided to celebrate spring by putting down the book that i really need to finish reading and going on a lovely bike ride. i went from east river park to south street seaport to battery park to hudson river park up to the chelsea piers and back. tremendous!

the best part is how i feel when i ride. my mind is so free! not free to think, but free to not think. my focus is entirely on how to keep moving without hitting anyone or killing myself. i don't think about school or my future or loneliness or love or any other emotions or people in my life or people i've lost.

my thoughts consist of speeches i would yell at the idiotic pedestrians who walk in the bike path (though there is a separate walking path!) if i only had the chance to express myself to them. my thoughts also consist of random evaluations of the towering buildings and of reflections on the birds and dogs and humans hanging out on the grass beside the river.

i guess i can call this being in the moment. whatever words i am saying to myself deal entirely with the present--how to continue soaring and enjoying the moment. there is no space to dwell on the issues that haunt me when i'm trying to read or trying to sleep or when i'm walking around the city. my body and my mind are united in an effort to move forward smoothly and breathe in the beautiful spring air while the blue blue blue sky smiles at me and the day embraces me with a sweet, sweet hug.

after my glorious ride, i came back to my neighborhood and rode by an ice cream truck (it is spring!) and cheerful individuals in t-shirts on the streets (it is spring!). then i reached my building, to return to reading/thinking, unfortunately. and just as i was about to do the difficult little trick where i get my bike in the door before the door slams against it...

a nice young man said: "lemme get dat sweetie" (and held open the door)
me: "oh thank you! thank you!"
nice young man: "is der anotha one?" (and he looked in to see the second door. then he entered my building and opened that door for me!)
me: "oh thank you! thank you!"
nice young man: "sure, mama"
me: "have a nice day!"
nice young man: "you too!"


i love it that his simple gesture brought me such great joy.