The Turtle woke up this morning feeling a stirring deep in its shell. The warm spring air was finally here and the earth was coming to life again. It had been a long hard winter and it seemed as if it would never leave. Now it finally had and the sun was bright in the empty blue sky.
The Shepherd was scratching at the door. He had a full bladder and needed to pee. Once outside he surveyed the yard, checking all his usual spots and securing the perimeter. His yard was small but occasionally he would get out and take long walks with his owner when the weather got warmer. Today was a good day for a long walk.
The Rider checked his motorcycle over and packed his gear, bringing an extra fleece vest and warm gloves. It was cooler at the coast and he knew that riding at 70 mph the wind would make the air temps brisk until he got inland. Today a long ride was planned, traveling far into the North Country seeking out the back roads and letting the new motor find it’s rhythm during its break in period. The Rider could feel the excitement building as he sat on the bike and adjusted his helmet. A day off on the bike would do his mind, body and spirit good. It had been a never ending winter.
The Turtle knew what to do. Nobody had to tell her. It was a code that had long since been written. Every year it was the same. No variations, no personal interpretations. It did what the turtles before it did for time immemorial. Today would be no different.
The Shepherd had this extra feeling of excitement today. He had more energy than usual, which was a lot to begin with. He picked up his stuffed toy and threw it in the air, grabbed it and shook it violently. Then he ran fast around the confines of the yard. Today was a good day to run.
Once out of the congestion of the towns near his home the Rider could feel the tension dissipate and his body began to feel the connection of the power beneath him. This was how to live he thought; this sweet feeling of movement. The only thing that didn’t relax was his eyes – they kept scanning the pavement ahead and shifting side to side for anything that might affect his trajectory down the road. It was serious business beneath all that joy. The potential hazards were many; a car pulling out in front of him, a rock in the road, a downed tree limb. Pretty much anything that while driving a car might not concern you but for a motorcycle could be potentially lethal.
The Turtle knew it was time to relocate and get ready to bring new life into the world. She began the slow trip from the small pond to the larger marsh area fifty feet away.
The Shepherd watched with disappointment as its owner left for work. No walk this morning, though it looked like the gate was left slightly ajar.
The Rider watched the road ahead of him as the speedometer went from 50 to 60 to 70 to 80 in a heartbeat. The asphalt snaked underneath him weaving and twisting at warp speed. The rider grinned.
The Turtle started to climb the embankment that led to the road. The need to move was automatic and unquestioned. Once across the road the Turtle would be in her nesting grounds.
The Shepherd felt the sun warming his fur. He stood and stretched and went towards the slightly open gate. He nudged it with his nose. Freedom called. He could feel the urge to run fast and far.
The Rider downshifted as he approached a town. Traffic was a heavier here and the speed limit slowed to 35 mph. His awareness was heightened in town – so many objects for the eye to notice and the mind to process.
The Turtle had this one last crossing to make. She left the dusty shoulder and started the final twenty foot journey across the warm asphalt.
The Shepherd looked left and right then sprinted down the sidewalk.
The Rider was almost home. It had been a long but very satisfying day.
The Turtle was almost halfway across.
The Shepherd was finally running free.
The Rider saw the dog fifty feet down the street on his left. Traffic was moving quickly in both directions. The Rider thought it odd the dog was loose and looked anxiously for its owner nearby as he rode past.
The Turtle knew this passage was one that may end suddenly though the rush of the passing cars didn’t dissuade it from continuing.
The Shepherd was frantic now and confused with so many cars passing nearby. He darted left into the traffic flow, crossed the center line, and then into the oncoming lane.
The Rider passed the dog just as it ran across one lane. He quickly looked in his side view mirror to see what came next but a van blocked his view. He didn’t see the dog make it across the other lane and could see the cars further back all stop suddenly.
The Turtle kept moving, almost there, almost there.
The Shepherd was lost in traffic.
The Rider felt the pang of not knowing what happened to the dog. He rounded a bend in the road leaving the town behind and saw something in the opposite lane. It was a turtle. He loved turtles since he was a young boy and would always stop and move them off the road if he could. He went by too fast and the car behind him was too close for the Rider to stop suddenly. He watched as a large SUV approached and he yelled out and frantically motioned for the car to slow down. He turned almost all the way around on his bike and watched the SUV miss the turtle. Then turned back around to see a line of cars approaching the turtle. He felt like he should stop and go back but it was too late – five or six cars had passed by then. He didn’t want to know the outcome.
The Turtle slid down the embankment into the soft mud at the marshes edge. Ahh. Good to be home again she thought and let her legs relax into the cool water.
The Shepherd yelped as the bumper grazed his haunch. He spun slowly on the pavement and came to a stop sitting upright. A human ran over to him and grabbed his collar. The Shepherd licked the human wrist and stood up. He wished he was home again in his yard.
The Rider wondered why he witnessed these two incidents. He felt uneasy about seeing what he did. He prayed that both creatures were alright. He had spent the day in a state of heightened awareness that riding a motorcycle inspires. He felt a connection to his surroundings that being in the sun and wind conjure. He felt a deep happiness. Yet after witnessing what he had he felt unsure and unsettled, like something had been taken from his incredible day. He arrived home pre-occupied and edgy. He was grumpy and short tempered. Not at all how he expected to return to his family.
Later that night after the sun had long since set, the full moon shone a light so bright that all things were illuminated. The mystery of life was revealed, the magic and wonder of being alive was there to be enjoyed for as long as it lasted. What precedes the end of the ride is what matters, not why the ride has to end. All rides will eventually end. How do we plan to be fully part of each moment on every ride we take in Life? How in the midst of so much uncertainty can we find the tranquility and balance that inherently exists in Life itself? The only way is to live it without a doubt.
Tonight the Turtle dreamed. Tonight the Shepherd also dreamed. And on this night the Rider dreamed too of a never ending stretch of road...
Sweet dreams to you all, J
The Shepherd was scratching at the door. He had a full bladder and needed to pee. Once outside he surveyed the yard, checking all his usual spots and securing the perimeter. His yard was small but occasionally he would get out and take long walks with his owner when the weather got warmer. Today was a good day for a long walk.
The Rider checked his motorcycle over and packed his gear, bringing an extra fleece vest and warm gloves. It was cooler at the coast and he knew that riding at 70 mph the wind would make the air temps brisk until he got inland. Today a long ride was planned, traveling far into the North Country seeking out the back roads and letting the new motor find it’s rhythm during its break in period. The Rider could feel the excitement building as he sat on the bike and adjusted his helmet. A day off on the bike would do his mind, body and spirit good. It had been a never ending winter.
The Turtle knew what to do. Nobody had to tell her. It was a code that had long since been written. Every year it was the same. No variations, no personal interpretations. It did what the turtles before it did for time immemorial. Today would be no different.
The Shepherd had this extra feeling of excitement today. He had more energy than usual, which was a lot to begin with. He picked up his stuffed toy and threw it in the air, grabbed it and shook it violently. Then he ran fast around the confines of the yard. Today was a good day to run.
Once out of the congestion of the towns near his home the Rider could feel the tension dissipate and his body began to feel the connection of the power beneath him. This was how to live he thought; this sweet feeling of movement. The only thing that didn’t relax was his eyes – they kept scanning the pavement ahead and shifting side to side for anything that might affect his trajectory down the road. It was serious business beneath all that joy. The potential hazards were many; a car pulling out in front of him, a rock in the road, a downed tree limb. Pretty much anything that while driving a car might not concern you but for a motorcycle could be potentially lethal.
The Turtle knew it was time to relocate and get ready to bring new life into the world. She began the slow trip from the small pond to the larger marsh area fifty feet away.
The Shepherd watched with disappointment as its owner left for work. No walk this morning, though it looked like the gate was left slightly ajar.
The Rider watched the road ahead of him as the speedometer went from 50 to 60 to 70 to 80 in a heartbeat. The asphalt snaked underneath him weaving and twisting at warp speed. The rider grinned.
The Turtle started to climb the embankment that led to the road. The need to move was automatic and unquestioned. Once across the road the Turtle would be in her nesting grounds.
The Shepherd felt the sun warming his fur. He stood and stretched and went towards the slightly open gate. He nudged it with his nose. Freedom called. He could feel the urge to run fast and far.
The Rider downshifted as he approached a town. Traffic was a heavier here and the speed limit slowed to 35 mph. His awareness was heightened in town – so many objects for the eye to notice and the mind to process.
The Turtle had this one last crossing to make. She left the dusty shoulder and started the final twenty foot journey across the warm asphalt.
The Shepherd looked left and right then sprinted down the sidewalk.
The Rider was almost home. It had been a long but very satisfying day.
The Turtle was almost halfway across.
The Shepherd was finally running free.
The Rider saw the dog fifty feet down the street on his left. Traffic was moving quickly in both directions. The Rider thought it odd the dog was loose and looked anxiously for its owner nearby as he rode past.
The Turtle knew this passage was one that may end suddenly though the rush of the passing cars didn’t dissuade it from continuing.
The Shepherd was frantic now and confused with so many cars passing nearby. He darted left into the traffic flow, crossed the center line, and then into the oncoming lane.
The Rider passed the dog just as it ran across one lane. He quickly looked in his side view mirror to see what came next but a van blocked his view. He didn’t see the dog make it across the other lane and could see the cars further back all stop suddenly.
The Turtle kept moving, almost there, almost there.
The Shepherd was lost in traffic.
The Rider felt the pang of not knowing what happened to the dog. He rounded a bend in the road leaving the town behind and saw something in the opposite lane. It was a turtle. He loved turtles since he was a young boy and would always stop and move them off the road if he could. He went by too fast and the car behind him was too close for the Rider to stop suddenly. He watched as a large SUV approached and he yelled out and frantically motioned for the car to slow down. He turned almost all the way around on his bike and watched the SUV miss the turtle. Then turned back around to see a line of cars approaching the turtle. He felt like he should stop and go back but it was too late – five or six cars had passed by then. He didn’t want to know the outcome.
The Turtle slid down the embankment into the soft mud at the marshes edge. Ahh. Good to be home again she thought and let her legs relax into the cool water.
The Shepherd yelped as the bumper grazed his haunch. He spun slowly on the pavement and came to a stop sitting upright. A human ran over to him and grabbed his collar. The Shepherd licked the human wrist and stood up. He wished he was home again in his yard.
The Rider wondered why he witnessed these two incidents. He felt uneasy about seeing what he did. He prayed that both creatures were alright. He had spent the day in a state of heightened awareness that riding a motorcycle inspires. He felt a connection to his surroundings that being in the sun and wind conjure. He felt a deep happiness. Yet after witnessing what he had he felt unsure and unsettled, like something had been taken from his incredible day. He arrived home pre-occupied and edgy. He was grumpy and short tempered. Not at all how he expected to return to his family.
Later that night after the sun had long since set, the full moon shone a light so bright that all things were illuminated. The mystery of life was revealed, the magic and wonder of being alive was there to be enjoyed for as long as it lasted. What precedes the end of the ride is what matters, not why the ride has to end. All rides will eventually end. How do we plan to be fully part of each moment on every ride we take in Life? How in the midst of so much uncertainty can we find the tranquility and balance that inherently exists in Life itself? The only way is to live it without a doubt.
Tonight the Turtle dreamed. Tonight the Shepherd also dreamed. And on this night the Rider dreamed too of a never ending stretch of road...
Sweet dreams to you all, J
Comments