420 Day 08

Because I’m a traditionalist—at least about traditions I like—I rose early this Sunday, April 20th, visited my downstairs vaporium, and got out on my new bicycle before 8:00 to ride a big loop of Seattle’s edges: along Madison Park to the Arboretum, then up through the U-District and across Wallingford to Ballard, over the locks, and around the bike path in Discovery Park before skirting Magnolia and Myrtle Edwards Park, arriving at Pike Place Market just as crowds were showing up; getting tulips from my favorite flower vendor and French pastries and a baguette at Le Panier, then riding home to beat the snow showers for petite dejeuner with Mimi and Jen—exactly the sort of homage to sensuality and appealing visuals appropriate for this special day.

And it occurred to me that one of the things I really like about cycling is that you’re never alone (you’ve always got your bike), but you don’t ever have to stay (all you’ve got to do at any time is just hop on and ride.)

But I also couldn’t help thinking how lucky I am to be able to experience such a lovely morning; most people have lives that are far more serious, I think, than me. I try to console myself with the notion that I do make some effort to give back and I attempt to reign in my greediness when I can, but if that’s not enough, then my only response is to throw myself on the mercy of the court, so be it.

I’m not sure I saw anyone else out marking the day as I did; at one point, though I observed a couple guys enjoying their donuts and coffee with unusual relish, and a group of five hikers near Fort Lawton seemed to be finding the morning light especially smile-inducing, but it’s hard to say given the tint of the rose-colored glasses I donned before leaving my basement workshop with this morning’s traditional lift.