Day 18, April 3, 2020
Day Eighteen
It is Friday. Wet and chilly outside. Franklin hates the rain, so our lunch walk was literally just a walk around the house, and a reluctant one at that.
I want to express my appreciation for those of of you sending in kind notes, photos of bike rides, and videos of dancing! You inspire me. I can't wait until my bicycle emerges from the basement and I can take a ride down past the Bookmill into the farm fields beyond.
I have always enjoyed a good bike ride. There's something freeing about sailing through space under your own propulsion. As a kid, before anyone thought about helmets or the dubious ability for children to cross highways safely, my bicycle was the symbol of freedom. I could traverse the entire town on my bicycle. The yellow Schwinn with a banana seat evolved into a black Huffy pseudo dirt bike, then that transformed to a red 10 speed Shogun. I would ride to school, then after school to the five and dime candy store for red hots and lemon sours. In college I got a mountain bike that I took to the trails with, and rode through multiple crank bearings until, when I moved to Amherst, a friend gave me a 1980s era Fuji 10 speed. Returning to skinny tires was a revelation. It was like being a kid again, how fast one could go. Though my cycling exploits have not been without their embarrassing moments.
One particular time, I recall riding on to campus at GCC. I must have gone for a noon ride into town for lunch, because it was sunny and warm, and lots of students were out on the grass. The college was under renovation and in front of what is now the cafeteria was a giant crane lifting tremendous steel beams into the air. My attention followed the beam, and my bicycle followed the road until I came to the island that separates the Main Building from the East Building, and faced with a last minute decision on which way to turn... I wavered, and emulating my first solo bike ride, I hit the curb, sailed over the handlebars, and hit a sign post with my helmet, which rang with a cartoon like oscillating resonance. Students came running to help, cars pulled over, someone put their hand over their mouth. Luckily, I was uninjured, except for my own vanity.
So, recognizing my limitations, I do love to ride. As an adult, there are so many accouterments and it is easy to geek out on things a little bit. I've engaged with that to a degree, upgraded the bicycle to a mid-range Cannondale, and yes, I own padded spandex. But I still have the Fuji, and the reality is, I am still that kid riding across town pedaling as fast as I can down hill until tears stream out of my eyes.
Perhaps, now, more than ever, I am anticipating that first ride, that ability to push all other thoughts out of my head until all that remains is the refrain of a song, the first line of a poem, the bass riff that repeats, repeats, repeats until you crest a hill and birds take flight, deer stare in mock disgust, and across a field in the far distance a man walks his dog.
Take care and be well,
Leo
 |
| I guess I am like Franklin, a fair weather cyclist. |
One particular time, I recall riding on to campus at GCC. I must have gone for a noon ride into town for lunch, because it was sunny and warm, and lots of students were out on the grass. The college was under renovation and in front of what is now the cafeteria was a giant crane lifting tremendous steel beams into the air. My attention followed the beam, and my bicycle followed the road until I came to the island that separates the Main Building from the East Building, and faced with a last minute decision on which way to turn... I wavered, and emulating my first solo bike ride, I hit the curb, sailed over the handlebars, and hit a sign post with my helmet, which rang with a cartoon like oscillating resonance. Students came running to help, cars pulled over, someone put their hand over their mouth. Luckily, I was uninjured, except for my own vanity.
So, recognizing my limitations, I do love to ride. As an adult, there are so many accouterments and it is easy to geek out on things a little bit. I've engaged with that to a degree, upgraded the bicycle to a mid-range Cannondale, and yes, I own padded spandex. But I still have the Fuji, and the reality is, I am still that kid riding across town pedaling as fast as I can down hill until tears stream out of my eyes.
Perhaps, now, more than ever, I am anticipating that first ride, that ability to push all other thoughts out of my head until all that remains is the refrain of a song, the first line of a poem, the bass riff that repeats, repeats, repeats until you crest a hill and birds take flight, deer stare in mock disgust, and across a field in the far distance a man walks his dog.
Take care and be well,
Leo
 |
| My favorite view on my ride into GCC crossing the Canalside Rail Trail Bridge |
From Our Friends:
From Amanda Hyde
"I was unable to end my work day early enough to beat the rain today, so I rode for two hours in the cold, wet, and windy evening. Despite the conditions, it felt great and my body appreciates this daily self care."
From Bob Barba a First Ride Selfie
"Wish I looked more joyful, but it was kind of cold and I hadn't warmed up yet and was going downhill, so some [it is some] combination of, 'I could be back on my couch reading Journal of a Plague Year' and 'Really don't what to crash taking my first ride selfie.'"
I'm glad you didn't crash, Bob!
From Dawn Striker
Who made this video for her science students. I love the energy, stamina, and love that went into this!
From Pat King from Another Castle and Hit Point Studios
A free panel discussion: Make Talk Play: Creative Problem Solving in the Game Industry During a Pandemic. Local game industry leaders discussing how they are coping, pivoting, redirecting, failing and succeeding during the pandemic.
Today's Online Teaching Tips:
From MassHumanities
Documentary Educational Resources is sharing their entire library free now until June 1st. It seems like an amazing collection of historical, contemporary, sociological, nature, films. I look forward to watching some when I get some time.
From the Vermont Studio Center
There is only an introduction up now, but soon the VSC (an artist residency program) will post virtual readings, lectures, studio tours, etc. It should be interesting and exciting to see what emerges.
From Inside Higher Ed
An article on "Rethinking You Assignments for Online Learning" with some basic and more engaged ideas.
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