Standing at the Trailhead of Winter

As Ado and I started off on our late afternoon walk, I thought, I am in charge of my bliss . The longer we walked, the more settled into that idea I became. I felt the same comfort that washed over me last year in mid April, when I walked the grounds of Allerton, listening to the owls calling, and I thought,  I am free.  It is in these moments that I see the path in front of me more clearly. I received a critique for my haiku. A 540-word critique on 54 words of haiku. I had to laugh when I saw that. I figured the person really didn't like my poems if the need to write ten times more for critique seemed necessary. The critique was mixed, which is fine, and some good suggestions were offered. I've decided I'm done with the haiku, though, so I won't be making any further changes. I sent a thank-you note to the person who critiqued, then moved on with my day. A wood thrush, I think. It was really sad to watch it fade away. This afternoon, Ado and I snuggled on the c...

Heaven. In my garage.  With Old Faithful, my trusty blue cruiser. And tools. And the local bike shop dude teaching me bike maintenance. Two and a half hours, in heaven.

Went for a 21 mile ride today, later in the afternoon. Didn't push it. Didn't watch the computer. Just rode and enjoyed the scenery. Most of the fields are planted, the crops just beginning to peep above ground. The wind has quieted considerably since Sunday, making the ride seem especially easy. Having spent a huge amount of effort battling the wind on Sunday, I could feel some fatigue hanging around in the legs. Today's ride, though, wasn't about distance or speed. It was about being away from the city, away from the noise, away from all the have-to-do's. Blissful simplicity.