Crunch

I don't think I ever wrote about the lack of bike parking at my office, or the sort of slapstick comedy of errors that ensued when I asked where I was supposed to park. First I used a tree, then a fence, then tried bringing it inside the building. Finally I asked if it would be possible to have a bike rack installed somewhere. I had a whole presentation I was going to make, detailing the exact kind of rack that is best, and identifying where and how it should be installed for maximum benefit to me and all the others I was hoping to encourage to start riding their bikes to work as well. As it turned out they already had an old rack lying around the truck yard, and before I knew what was happening they'd pulled two guys out of the warehouse to bolt this one to the curb at the end of the parking lot.

They were so gracious and quick to respond that I was too embarrassed to say anything but thank you, even though it's totally the wrong kind of rack and they put it in the worst possible place — far from the entrance, unprotected, unlit, and right smack up against the end of the space the semi-trucks use to turn around in. I felt awkward every time I saw the guys who bolted it in, because I'm the only person in the whole company who rides to work so they knew I was the one who'd asked for the rack, and they also knew I'd never used it. I thanked them for their help, and told them I'd figured out a place to park inside, which is what I've been doing ever since.

Then the other day I was cutting through the lot on my way to lunch and noticed that a truck had indeed backed into the bike rack and knocked it right out of its moorings. If my bike had been parked there it would've been crunched beyond repair, assuming it hadn't already been stolen or vandalized by someone skulking around in the bushes back there.

This whole town is terrible for bike parking, I'm coming to realize. I'm considering taking it on as a personal challenge to see if I can get something done about this. I read online somewhere that in San Francisco, the city will install bike racks for free for any business that requests them, as a way of mitigating the traffic and parking problems in the city by encouraging people to bike instead of drive. A little initial research reveals that serviceable racks can be installed for just over $100 apiece, and possibly less than that if you can get the labor donated. Anyway. Something to think about. I'm kind of itching for a new civic project these days.

What else. Thanksgiving was nice, the usual ginormous turkey fiesta at the boyfriend's brother's house followed by a movie at home and early to bed. The day after that we went and sang kirtan with Jai Uttal at a benefit for our local ashram. It was fun to see a different bunch of people than our usual circle of friends, and I love chanting, or any kind of singing with large groups of people. It's one of the things I miss about being involved in regular group spiritual practice.

Speaking of which, we've been looking for a group to be part of together. Our ashram is a possibility, and there are several other organizations I like and am interested in around here, including the Shambhala Center, the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center, Green Gulch Farm, and of course Spirit Rock. The first two are within easy biking distance of my house and office; the others would require a car. The point is, we want to take our spiritual life deeper, and we want to do it together, and in fact we are doing it together. I love it that he's interested in sharing this part of my life with me. He's more than interested, actually. He's kind of taking the lead. That makes me really happy.

One of these days I'll write about why I'm so enamored of these activities (chanting, meditation, service, etc.), and why these forms are more comfortable for me than the ones I learned growing up, and a whole lot of other related topics. For now I just want to record that I'm really hapy with this part of my life right now. I feel connected and protected and like I'm opening just a little bit more every day, and sometimes it's kind of exhilirating—not always in a good way—but it feels right. For instance, the other night I had dinner with a friend whose elderly cat got ill just as we were sitting down to eat, and I was able to help take care of her, and reassure my friend, and just in general had felt like I'd been in the right place at the right time. As I was heading home I remembered something I heard some evangelist say recently (I wish I could remember where I heard it), along the lines of praying to god "that I might be the means by which you bless someone today" and I realized that that was kind of what had happened at my friend's house that night. Not that I personally did anything that was so great, but more like God was working through me in some small way. It felt good to be present enough to notice that happening.

Anyway, like I said—lots more to write about. Soon. Right now I am leaving for home via our favorite market, where fresh crabs are on sale for $3.49 per pound. I'm picking up three of those, plus bread, plus some kind of greens and probably a little dessert, and cramming them all into my bike bag and riding the rest of the way home, and taking a bath on the patio while the boyfriend cooks everything up, and then we'll eat and probably watch a new Joseph Campbell DVD that just came in the mail, and then have a little snuggling with the dogs and hopefully go to sleep early. Tomorrow morning I'm helping my friend worm her goats again. That's always a good time.