Checking Under the Hood

Every now and then one has to stop and Check Under the Hood.  How is the oil level? Windshield wiper fluid? Radiator fluid (unless you are driving an old VW in which case you are air cooled).  Occasionally, bigger fixes and greater attention are required: oil changes, tires rotated, new clutch (don't even get me started on new clutches!). I've driven a heck of a lot of miles this year--to California and back,  and while there two trips to the Bay Area, and visits to my dad and step-mother's. Once back in the east, I picked up my son from college in Long Island. Then to Minnesota to pick up my daughter. A couple of trips to Cleveland. Back to Minnesota, where we now reside temporarily. So I'm Checking Under the Hood.

I've been itinerant in a big way for many of the last several years. Not all of that time resulted in or required driving. So I'm (sorry for the gross analogy) Checking Under the Hood in the sense of the spirit.  First item: Gratitude. How are the levels? These, days, very high. I find myself feeling grateful for all kinds of things, large and small. Occasionally I feel like the character Ricky Fitts in "American Beauty": "Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in." Too many gratitudes to mention for today, but one standout: just this morning I had a long conversation with my dad, a heart-to-heart about some of the challenges and situations of the week. He observed to me how others really count on me and how much I take on, and that he would be there as my rock when I needed him. I am so grateful that he's around for me to lean on. Not everyone my age has the privilege of a parent that is still around to offer support.

Next, how does the Purpose Level look? All of those gauges! Truth: moments of truth with occasional bouts of denial.  Trust: levels rising. Surrender: on the agenda for this week! Happiness: whenever possible. Peace: applying daily meditation and Yoga.

Finally, the Compass. One of my go-to Tricycle Daily Dharmas:
" Whatever your difficulties—a devastated heart, financial loss, feeling assaulted by the conflicts around you, or a seemingly hopeless illness—you can always remember that you are free in every moment to set the compass of your heart to your highest intentions. In fact, the two things that you are always free to do—despite your circumstances—are to be present and to be willing to love." - Jack Kornfield, "Set the Compass of Your Heart" 
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Enough said.


I'm leaving out tire levels (a little saggy!) and paint job (a few dents and wrinkles).

Today I achieved a great victory. After a really difficult day on the ice and a wicked interaction with me, my daughter agreed to come out with me on a bike ride--even though she was exhausted and it was beastly hot (for the umpteenth day in a row). Basically, I bribed her (hey, I'm not too proud). I offered to buy her her favorite (vegan, no processed sugar) dessert at Whole Foods in St. Paul if she would ride her bike there with me. We headed out at about 7 pm (it was still easily in the mid-to-upper 90s and humid as can be) and rode the 5 miles to the Whole Foods. Here we are riding along Summit Ave, the San Vicente (only nicer) of St. Paul.

It was a totally fun ride along neighborhood streets--and so many people out riding their bikes, running (crazy people!), and walking their dogs. Really just makes me smile--all the people on bikes. And I love riding the cruiser bike--I can ride it in a skirt!

The parking lot at the Whole Foods is filled with bikes.

By the time we got to Whole Foods we were completely dripping in sweat. We took our time in the air conditioned store. Then we stopped at Izzy's Homemade Ice Cream on the way home (see at least two previous blogs) for the obvious.

Can't eat ice cream and be unhappy at the same time. True dat.

So, all told, the vehicle, though it has a lot of miles on it, is running pretty dang well.