Life On A B-I7

This is a private note that has been shared.

The big deal this week, of course, was the Emerald City Ride. Over 3,000 cyclists rode from Lumen field in South Seattle over the West Seattle Bridge to Alki Point then along the West Seattle shoreline and back over the West Seattle hill returning to Lumen Field. There was just over 1,000 feet of climbing. I added an additional 5 miles to and from my hotel in Georgetown for a total morning ride of just under 30 miles. I was mildly surprised that I made it without having to give up on any hills. There were two rest stops. The first I stopped at briefly to quickly snap a photo (see below) and the second briefly to use the port-a-potty. Grand total rest time, maybe 10 minutes. I completed the entire 30 miles in just under 3 hours. (That’s solid touring speed.) At the second rest stop I chatted with a fellow, He complemented me on my Davidson. He said he has a friend that owns seven of them. That is hard to appreciate. You could probably buy a Porsche for the price of seven Davidson’s.

Acupuncture and Strength training continued this week and will continue through May (until I launch my ride on June 1. My strength coach told me this week that after she met me the first week she wasn’t sure she would be able to train me I was such a mess. I think that means I’m making progress — I hope so.

Emma and Leyla are coming up to Anacortes on May 31st for a send-off dinner. Audrey is going to have dinner with me in Newport, WA on the 6th of June. Polly will be in Anacortes and Newport, she’s sagging me across Washington. For that I am immensely grateful. I’ll miss you Kelsey, but I’ll be carrying all three of you in my heart every day on the ride (that’s nothing new really).

(You can find a couple of photos of the Ride on my post about that subject.)

I’ve been doing a little Social Science this week and I’ve learned a bit about cats. If you want them to understand you (and you them) you should utilize these techniques.

1. Slow blink at your cat.
2. After being away, crouch down and acknowledge verbally, extend a hand.
3. Talk to them. Use their name. Your voice is their anchor.
4. Play daily to simulate hunting.
5. Create a safe zone for them (elevated).
6. Simply be present with them in quiet moments. Exist together.
7. Dawn and Dusk are peak times to be near your cat, and that is when they enjoy having you near them the most.

Cats love quietly, love deeply, and love calmly. They stay and don’t leave because of you, so be there for them.

Not bad advice for any relationship…

On my other Social Science journey this week, I’ve learned a tiny bit about what constitutes meaning in life. (There are many possible answers to this question.) It’s a theory called the “Discovery Loop of Romantic Love.” (Don’t be scared, it’s all good.)

It goes something like this.

1. Fall in love
2. Take risk
3. Fail
4. Suffer
5. Learn

It is possible to exit the loop when you succeed and you find the meaning of love (and a lot of other things.) Let’s step through this one experience at a time. While these are read left to right, think of them as stations on a closed loop…

1. JoDeane: Risk, Fail, Suffer, Learn, MEANING: Kelsey Audrey
2. Laurie: Risk, Fail, Suffer, Learn, MEANING: Emma
3. Polly: Risk, Success, Suffer, Learn, MEANING: Tux

A couple of things (seven) worth noting here:

1. I have always done more learning than suffering.
2. I hope that is true for those that have been along on the ride with me.
3. It doesn’t matter if you succeed or fail, there is still suffering, like most things in life, it’s a matter of degrees.
4. Naturally if you are lucky enough to achieve success in the second step, there is just less suffering.
5. The corollary to that rule is this: There is always learning.
6. The longer I live, the more wonderful the meaning is.
7. On the subject of meaning in the last case, Tux is a stand-in. No one (not even Tux) could reach the level of, let alone replace, the meaning that both Polly and I have been fortunate to receive. In case there is any confusion — I doubt there is — that would be our children.

Have a great week!

This week’s song: Layla (Unplugged) by Joe Robinson