Sanibel Island Day 3

Hello My Friends,

Today has been introspective and memory laden for me.

Perhaps I've mentioned that in January of 1999,
After riding basement stationary bike for hours,
Sanibel Island was place I got to bike outside,
Wearing bike clothing I'd never experienced.
Padded shorts designed for biking—what a concept!
Better than the cut off sweats with extra fabric sewn in crotch! :>)

Learned to wash, wrap, stomp wet shorts & shirt,
And hang for next day's wearing.
Something I would do nightly for sixty consecutive days
Once launched on my first cross-country bike ride.
Which started on March 13 of 1999.

That possibility for my personally stretching bike adventure,
Showed up coincidentally at time when I needed to
"Bust out,”
Expand who I could be.

What a challenge it was!
I did not like every day, some NOT at all.
I did like that I got to destination each night.
Each day's ride, the one-day-at-a-time of riding,
Got me all the way across the U.S.

Nearly every year since 1999 I have taken a bike trip.
Have ridden one-day-at-a-time and reached the destination.
That has been powerful personal affirmation for me.
I treasure having met those challenges.

I didn't realize that I was amassing miles.
That just happened.
I didn't even realize that with each trip
I was deciding to purpose some days simply
For Me,

To do what I've learned I love,
Ride a bike trip.
Physically and mentally, it is important.

As I am just a few days and counting, from my
Eighty-year birthday on March 13, 2019,
I realize how grateful I am for those decisions.

Even when possibility just sort of landed in my lap and I signed -on,
Those hard days of riding and the satisfaction gained,
Have expanded my sense of possibility,
Have expanded my life.

Hugs to each of you,
Lin