Mise-en-scène

“Ten times a day something happens to me like this – some strengthening throb of amazement – some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.” ~ Mary Oliver

My road bike does not allow me to join some friends when they hit the dirt trail. This has frustrated me a lot since I only own one bike. On a swirl of thoughts, I decided to go to Bird’s Hill by myself and see where it takes me. I’ve never been there, sad, I know… but heck! I went for it last Sunday, fell in love with the place as I arrived, and even got myself the seasonal park pass!

Sunday though was a whirl. I got lost inside the park, and spent an hour trying to find my way back. Ran out of water and my belly was screaming for sustenance. Did I panic? Geez… it’s friggin funny, like it wasn’t even a surprise for me, except for the fact I still didn’t know how to get back. Then I heard a loud bANg! Ooohh… firecrackers! Wha? In the middle of the day? And where are the rest of the bangs? Just one??

Thinking…

Rangers! They must have caught a bear sneaking into the picnic areas! Awesome. I’m lost with probably baby bear looking for mama bear.

I ended up in the stables, with a game of polo going on. My vehicle is parked by the lake. Surely there is no lake near the stables! That would be eewww!

Thinking…

I was on the other side of the park. I can’t recall how many times I’ve turned around on its highway (there is a lane for cyclists and skaters on the main roads!) so in my own excitement about the place, in my own inattentiveness, in my own getting caught with anything ‘sparkly’ to my attention, I was inside my own whirl.

Did it end there??
Haha!

I got lost going home even and ended in Winnipeg!

Then you’d think – Oh, she’s not coming back. After getting lost, she’ll only come back with some company to navigate her..

I drove back yesterday. Alone. =)

The second time however, Monday, has been entirely different. Sunday was sparkly. Monday was magical. I did a good distance (Sunday was longer because I got lost – hahaha). I was more aware of my surroundings and how spectacular the place truly is. The wind is stronger, cooler than Sunday, but nonetheless, the wind blowing at me while my bike goes down a hill… magically freeing…

And of all the cyclists I met on those two days, one stood out by far. Her name is Kim. Would I have noticed her on the first day? Probably not. I was very much in my sparkling bubble. She is in the gallery below. Awesome rockin’ Kim! =)

There is one thing I need to point out here though. I have done crazy things in life, but mostly with the company of other people. It’s just more fun that way. Yet going on this trip, alone, twice… it has by far reached a deeper and farther level within me I never thought I can go to. It began when I went for training, traveling by myself… there really is something profound yet carefree about all of these.

You’d think that writing a blog can help me express this more… hahaha again…

I guess what I am trying to say is…

Getting out of my comfort zone??
Spontaneity??
… is what living a life is.
Namaste. =)

Meet Kim!!!

When I was stalking Kim 😉