FREE WHEELIN’

BRIAN RATHJEN

FROM HERE…

Every day just gets a little shorter, don’t you think? Take a look around you, and you’ll see just what I mean People got to come together, not just out of fear Where do we go from here? Chicago II Over the years there are things we recognize and feel comfortable with. During this same time, it is easy to see we have become creatures of habit as well. I like to start my ramblings with old songs that I feel t the mood or ask the right question at the right time. I am also a long-time sun person and I spend my winters looking to steal even an hour or two on a bike. Winter sucks… seriously! As Shawn and Guster would say in Psych… “Suck It, Winter!” Our home was purposely built, by the original artist owners, to be an astronomical calendar and has the bedroom facing the woods to the east – well over 400 acres of privately owned forest land. In winter the sun comes up to my side and window - the far right. In summer to hers – way to the left. During the year it’s somewhere in the middle of the wide glass doors. The time of year affects Shira and me differently. During the colder and darker months Shira typically rises before me, mostly because of the demands of the CFO (Chief Feline Of cer) Spenser T. I am sometimes aware of this, and her kiss on my forehead means my life is still good, and nothing terrible happened while we were in Dreamland. Six months on the other side of this astronomical passion play I’ll be checking chains, tire pressures, oil levels, and rolling my eyes at the changes someone has suggested to be made to my previously semi-perfect GPS routes. C’mon left, right, paved, gravel… whatever. It’s an adventure. Fast and curve balls all part of the game, right? But, today – right now… 6:10 am – still dark as pitch, but with the hint that somewhere in the far Atlantic, at a speed of about 1,000 miles per hour, Helios is about to wake up his steeds. Many have had to get up already and get going to make a living or, in many cases, making a life. A long time ago Shira and I (along with various furry friends) found that creating a life is far more satisfying than the former. So, I sit in front of my old iMac, next to the laptop that is three times as powerful, and tap these thoughts. Disjointed but coming together as the coffee does its job. Last night was one of the longest in the year. I slept early last night. For some reason, this day has had me up in summer-time mode. In the real world wintertime, I roll around in bed and read some great motorcycle magazines until the sun is burning through the windows. Quietly taking a shower, at O-Dark-30, and making super quiet coffee I slip down to Backroads Central - only Spenser T. Cat has been running up and down the spiral stairs – almost worried at this reversal of events this morn. He rubs up against me, wanting to be let out. He is tenacious. We can learn from cats. They are focused creatures. He taps out on Mac’s keyboard how he can see SOOOO much better than I can in low-light. This daybreak at Backroads Central is different – slightly dimmer, but I relent (give up?) and I let him Continued on Page 7