motorcyclemeditation.com

On the motorcycle today, reflecting on how from nowhere you can innocently find yourself in deep doodoo, as now for me.

A guiding philosophy, no day is worthy of special treatment, whether for success or failure, impostors both. Each day a thing to treat on its own terms. Being on a motorcycle being a fine exemplar, no surer way of squeezing the pips out of everyday life, enjoying the moment.

One advantage of such philosophy, avoidance of commercial pressures to do things you wouldn’t otherwise. Like giving gifts or sharing meals, if you’re going to do it, do it, why wait until a day someone else decides is special. This carrying the liberating corollary, you don’t need anybody’s approval to do anything. Such as motorcycling.

In practice, a generally benign effect on all. Enjoyment of one another’s company sourced in its own dynamic, free of having to fit a false mould. The escape from outworn ceremonial forms, emancipating. No phony festive paraphernalia, gifts and cards and wrapping and such.

That’s the theory. This morning, innocently enjoying morning’s rituals, talking to the cats, counting out the right change, going to the shop for the newspaper, getting breakfast ready, oh look, what’s this on the breakfast bar, a white envelope, wouldn’t normally expect anything to be there, oh, my name written on it in my sweet one’s hand.

Opening it. Inklings of catastrophe dawning. Duly borne out. Oh woe is me, a Valentine card.

Quick, get something, anything, card, flowers, chocolate, champagne, anything. No time, here’s my sweet one walking through the door.

Motorcycle beneath me spinning along. Remembering the scene, my sweet one relaxed, no it’s fine, I know you don’t do cards, just wanted to give you one anyway. In short, twisting the knife, playing dirty.

No way out of this. Get some flowers, something, it’ll look like I’m only doing it reactively, besides, what about the oft vaunted theory. But do nothing and there’ll surely be a price to pay.

Oh motorcycle, once again you’re my only friend in the world. Can’t you think of a solution.