Welcome to my new blog, Espresso
Shots. This idea has been germinating in
my mind for a number of years. I simply
have never taken the steps to make it real.
Now seems to be the time. Why today? Because spring landed on me like a shot in
the arm. Milton, my city & home,
came through in an election supporting kids & our future, and, in my
opinion, appropriate candidates were elected to both the City Council and the
Board of Education. A, long, dark winter signaled its retreat in a plethora of
ways, many of my own making. The power
of our own minds and thoughts is so intriguing.
Unlike Kids Matter and Cruz’n for
Kindness, my topic specific blogs, Espresso Shots will not have a specific
agenda but will be the meandering of my mind on things that strike me, resonate
with me, motivate me, or make me sad or happy as I go about my life in
Milton. My habits of walking and biking
provide great opportunity for introspection, observation, and reflection. This occasional blog will be a sharing of some
of the product of those activities.
So, why would I want to share any
of this? What is the sense of that? Am I trying to show off, to provoke
reaction? Does anybody care? Does it
matter if anyone cares? No it doesn’t
matter. I expect my readership will be nearly non-existent. My purpose is
simply that self-publishing will provide me with an aspect of my own self-care;
something that most of us need desperately.
So, what’s up with the name,
Espresso Shots? I love coffee, nearly
every aspect of it. Sue and I owned an RV that we named Espresso. Espresso’s vanity plate was 3xLATTE for one
of my favorite coffee drinks, the delectable triple latte. We owned a small scooter/motorcycle which we
hauled on the back of Espresso for use when we were set up in a campground and
needed to “scoot” into town for something.
We named the scooter, Latte, which sported the vanity plate, LATTE. My bicycle was feeling left out so I bestowed
on it the name, Double Shot. A Starbucks
Double Shot on ice is my go-to coffee drink especially in warmer weather but so
good any time. Double Shot seemed to fit
my bike well. So, don’t you think it is completely logical that my blog would
be called Espresso Shots? Well, it is
logical to me and this is my blog so there you go.
Welcome to Espresso Shots. I’d love your readership and comments but
really don’t expect either. Remember
this is self-care. It is good for me to
get some of this on paper as it helps my sanity.
I am not a cold weather
biker. Double Shot gets hung on the
hooks in the garage or installed on the trainer in my basement about late
October and doesn’t see the light until spring comes around. “Real” bikers ride all year round. I am not in that category. I brought Double Shot out of the basement a
few days ago and readied him for riding.
Tires pumped, lights charged, batteries working in the computer – all that
well-intentioned stuff. But then I
procrastinated – too chilly, too windy, too cloudy, not enough time, should do
something else – lots of moaning and groaning but little action. I was caught in a psychological hump where
one could stay for a long time if one let themselves. Today, April 3, I broke out. I donned the
biking clothes, filled the water bottle, strapped on the helmet, cleated in,
and pedaled from my garage out E. High Street, north on Sunnyside, East on
Storr’s Lake Road, and then north onto the Glacial River Bike Trail. What an
asset this trail is to our area and only a mere mile from my driveway. I walk
and bike the trail often. I love it and
try to take care of it to the degree within my power (picking up litter when I
walk, sweeping gravel off in the spring from winter runoff and plowing,
bringing to the attention of proper authorities issues such as washouts or
drainage things that pose a hazard if they present). I like to do these things and gain
fulfillment from them. It’s another way
of paying my civic rent.
My ride went well today, seemingly
too easy for an out-of-condition 69 year old who was carrying extra tubes
around his middle even though he had spare tubes in his bag. I rode about seven miles out to the north
edge of Rock County. This is almost
right at the Stagecoach Inn location. Wisely,
I chose to reverse at that point as I quickly realized the wind was not my
friend on the return trip.
Several observations today. I was warmer (quite comfortable actually)
than I thought I would be. My body did well for being out of condition. I remembered
how much I love being on Double Shot. I saw wooly bears. I saw cranes, geese,
sea gulls of some kind which I think were eating frogs or frog-like creatures
in the run-off sea that has formed at the Klug Road cul-de-sac. People were walking with strollers and
unleashed dogs. Today, these dogs and
their adults were well-behaved and exhibited good trail manners – not always
the case. One of my more interesting
observations was my buddy Ernie Fisher.
I saw his “classic” truck (I don’t think he has named it but maybe he
should) parked at the end of a driveway right on Highway 26. I thought he was trying to sell his beloved
truck but then realized how unlikely that would be. Then I saw Ernie digging a hole of some kind
not far from the truck. That’s Ernie,
diligent about completing his chores and here I was riding bike with plenty of
chores waiting at home. (Remember the
self-help thing? Good because I find
there are always chores aplenty). I hollered to Ernie as I sailed by and I
think he heard me all the way across the highway. It’s always nice to encounter a friend. My ride was just what I needed – I clocked
just under 15 miles and felt so righteous.
God, being God, behaved as a
true, good father today. Very early this
morning, he slapped me right across the face to arrest my attention. At 5 a.m., I was reporting to the Gifts Men’s
Shelter in Janesville to fulfill my volunteer early morning and breakfast
shift. I had not been to the new
building before so as I entered the enclosed vestibule to be “buzzed” inside I
was concentrating on how to get someone’s attention to obtain access. While
waiting I heard a noise behind me. I turned and there on the floor sleeping
soundly were two homeless men. I had not
even seen them when I entered the vestibule. Because of my own thoughts, and
because I did not have eyes for homeless men (even though I was at the homeless
shelter) I didn’t even see them. I felt
bad and even embarrassed. (You should know
that these men were not supposed to be there but that is beside the
point). Do we only see that for which we
are looking? Are our eyes open enough to
the life issues that exist in our community even though they may seem far away
from our daily lives. I’m afraid I’m in
that category and I find it troubling. I
will become better. So God started his
work on me early with a jolt of self-realization. Then God, being God, rewarded me with great
news from the Milton community. He provided a sense of fulfillment and
affirmation that actions and behaviors do matter. Then God gave me that shot in the arm of my
first bike ride of spring, the wooly bears, the cranes, the warmth of the sun,
good friends, the stuff of life. He
reminded me that I need to have eyes with which to see all that is in front of
me and to be thankful for the wonderful life that I have.
Thanks for coming along for the
maiden voyage of Espresso Shots. Looking forward to seeing you again.
Great reflections!
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