My New Best Friend

Seeing as Jessica has a new apartment, but no car to go with it… my bike has, once again, become my best friend. It gets me places in about the same amount of time that it would take to use the bus system, and it has the added benefit of not requiring a monthly pass – or a time table!

Admittedly, the first ride to the church was slightly tortuous (something to do with the entire bike being out of alignment, and Jessica not having ridden much more than two miles at a time in at least three years – and, folks, Minnesota is FLAT!), but, since then, it’s actually been really nice.

There is this amazing thing that happens to humans when you get them out of one of those little metal boxes with wheels. They speak, and they smile, and, although it is by no means up to Kenyan standards, it is expected that you will acknowledge one another’s existence and humanity.

Maybe I am just odd, but it remains amazing to me how much more deeply it feels like you connect with a place when you see it on foot – or on a bicycle.

Cars have their place (I wouldn’t want to bike to Seattle – at least, not without plenty of advanced planning!), but I am hugely enjoying the chance to NOT be in a car for once.