The weather was beautiful last weekend, almost early spring-ish temperature, blue sky and bright sunshine. It was a welcome respite from the recent snowstorm and overall gloomy winter. I, like many others, did not spare this golden opportunity to venture outdoors and do something, and I hit a bike trail looking forward to a 40-km ride.
On one particular narrow segment of the trail, I was forced to walk my bike because an old lady with a support stroller in her hand occupied almost the entire path. She was, understandably, walking slowly and apologising for blocking the path. “I know you youngsters don’t like to be held up like that” she said something to that extent (making me chuckle at her emphasis on the word ‘young’). Soon the path widened and I peddled off on my racer bike.
Less than a kilometre later, my the chain of my bike got stuck in the rear derailleur and I was almost thrown off the path (due to the speed). I took that opportunity to take a break, relax on the nearest bench, have a sip of water and then get ready to fix the chain. It turned out to be somewhat complicated and I had to undo my tyre, etc. (irrelevant details). I was almost ready to take off when I heard a feeble voice.
“Are you alright? I can give you a ride in my vehicle!” I laughed as the same old lady caught up with me, offering a seat in her stroller. Her smile was warmer than the rays of the sun and her laughter was more cheerful than the song of the birds. For the next little while, I walked; her on one side and the racer bike on the other… what a weird mix.
It sounds like a silly story now that I read whats written above. Nevertheless I enjoyed spending time with her in a slow and ‘inefficient’ manner, without the constant need to ‘do’ something. It not only made her happy but also made me appreciate, among other things, the little pleasures of the onset of spring: tender grass, bugs and birds, while a random patches of snow (like the picture above) were melting away into oblivion. After all, what’s the rush?
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It’s a good thing to escape the rush once in a while, indeed!
Weather is lovely in Ottawa too. It’s better than spring! I just hope it’s gonna last. I put my winter coat away now and I don’t want to have to use it again for a while.
↵Hi Zhu! Indeed I have done the same, I hope we won’t need that coat for a while.
↵just loved this post Priyank! Have a good week ahead
↵Thanks Gauri!
↵awwh, this is so sweet. love this !
↵Thanks bloomer!
↵Well written
↵Thanks Mandar!
↵Nice tale! Enjoy the spring flowers too Priyank.
↵Thanks Celine!
↵Oh Priyank, that is actually beautiful story and funny too, and you are right what is the rush. It really put smile on my face. BTW thanks so much for recent visit to my blog and string of comments. I almost thought that you will never come back from the xmas trip, lol or was it a chicken farm. Good to see you back my friend. Anna
↵Oh I haven’t seen your blog in ages… I should do that soon!
↵Nice post!
↵I, too, felt more than on a single occasion that we are rushing through our life. This feeling only comes when some disaster causes a temporary pause in our plans.
We should learn to relax and slow down a bit and watch the nature or other things.
Well said. Thanks!
↵In my last trip, all that i did was walked and observed most of the time..lovely post
↵That can make a fantastic vacation indeed!
↵Cool stuff! Takes something special to appreciate such little moments with sweet old people..
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Happens rarely!
↵Well then again , it is good to pause and muse ..
↵nice post
↵Lovely post. So much better than the one I read 18 months ago, about an old (smelley?) lonely lady, in a subway, talking at lenght to a younger person who really wasn’t interested.
Yes! It’s good to slow down on the road, and look around at its beauty. Life rushes one all the time, till the day when old age takes its toll, and one has to walk, one step at a time, instead of running from here to there.
I still have your Email invitation for a cup of tea, Priyank. I’ll contact you, sometimes, this summer. Take care. All the best!
↵Hi Claudia! So nice to see you here! I must have mentioned about you to atleast two or three people during the past year – about how the previous post on earphones was offensive. I was kinda upset but now your comment brought some cheer! Thanks!
↵Just forgot to click on “followup comments”. It’s interesting to read people’s reactions to a post.
↵Oh but there won’t be many reactions – this post is 4 months old!
↵Hello… long time, no post… something about summer cuz you know it’ll be over before you can blink hehe
↵hehe, I know… the sunset is no longer at 21:30!
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