Karma

I would like everyone to thank me for the beautiful weather we are having today in Jackson Tennessee. 54 degrees (which in January is to be adjusted up to 84 degrees, my rule, no arguing), brilliant sunshine, light breeze out of the north, perfect.  The reason that I'm to be thanked is that its my karma that produced it.  Stick with me on this, I'll explain.

Mondays are typically my Sunday.  And this past week, I had big plans for my day off.  I'd looked at the forecast, calling for sunny skies and high 50's to low 60's and made up my mind that I was going to ride.  I didn't quite know how far or to where, but I was going to do it.  Perhaps a ride up to Shemwell's Bar B Q in Cairo, Ill.  Maybe a loop down around Pickwick Lake and into Alabama and back up the east side of the river, no telling.

But.....

I, like many others watched the storms brewing up on Sunday.  I, like many of you stayed glued to the weather radio and Dave Brown that night, watching with some native West Tennessee apprehension as to what might be unfolding on a 70 degree windy-as-hell January evening.  I then took a look at the Monday forecast.  No big change from what had previously been reported, other than a slight dip in the high temps and windy.  Then my mind started screwing with me.  What else did I have that needed to be accomplished?  Did I really have "time" to be out riding?

We rode the storms out Sunday night and, like every other Monday, I was up at the crack of dawn to get the kids out the door for school.  The first light showed low hanging clouds, remarkably cooler temps than the day before and a blustery wind.  The roads were still completely wet from the overnight rain.  I began making excuses for going back to bed.  I could feel a slight tickle in my throat.  I yawned a little more than usual.  I told myself just how nice it would be to sleep the dreary morning away and catch up on some much needed rest.  I thought about those two tangly long haired sons of mine that I sent off to school and how badly they needed haircuts.  I reminded myself about needing to have a locksmith out to repair a bolt on one of my doors, a perfect storm of excuses to not ride.  And I took the bait, hook, line and sinker.

I did sleep in.  Turns out I didn't feel any better when I woke up at nearly 11 than I did when I laid down at 7:15.  I did have the locksmith out to fix the bolt, and it was no more fixed yesterday than it would've been if I'd waited until today to get it done.  The boys came home from school and I loaded them up to take them to get haircuts, only to find out that the regular barber was booked and the other one closed. 

The only thing that worked out was the weather.  Brilliant sunshine, nearly 60 degrees, light wind out of the north.  Perfect day to ride.  And my excuses and I missed it. 

Today's perfect day is karma.  I can't ride today.  I have a million tasks in front of me at the store that are preventing me from taking advantage of this beautiful day.  I've walked out back several times to monitor the progress on a project we have going on and the weather mocks me at every step.  The Big Red Sled sits out back, glistening in the sunlight, and frowning at me, ashamed at how I wimped out yesterday.

A wasted day.  Don't make a habit of it.  I won't either.  Back to work...sigh.

Ride OFTEN, Ride Safe, and Ride with Purpose.

Scott