Tala LOVES mountain biking (and wildflowers, and fresh spring creeks and…)
Read moreNew milestone for Tala and I
Tala loves spring, and wildflowers, and mountain trails and mountain biking and....
Tala and I have ventured out mountain biking together this spring. Three years ago this month we were both attacked, separately by dogs (she was 5 months old when the giant mastiff attacked her just 3 days before the pack of pit bulls attacked me). We fueled each other’s new fears. Our desire to protect each other made even friendly dog encounters stressful as Tala leapt into previously unknown aggressive behavior. We are healing. Improving. I purposefully pick less-peopled places to ride. She LOVES going. I have biked since the attack but never with Tala. Sometimes I biked and cried. Sometimes I froze in fear while meeting dogs. A few times fear sickened me 'til I puked. But I have kept riding - bits and pieces. Yesterday during Tala’s 3rd time mountain biking we ran into a bear. She listened to me as we waited (and waited) for the bear to move off the trail and on it’s merry way. Later when we passed someone and his dog near the trailhead Tala was full of friendly greetings. I’m proud of us.
The once-in-fifiteen-year snowstorm happened while I was in Paris....twice...!
Traveling is damn good for....everything...! The opportunity to go to Paris was totally unexpected and lucky-for-me travel expenses were in a large part paid for as I was asked to speak to youth at a business school (one of my favorite experiences from the trip). My first day in Paris at Muse d'Orsay and my final day in Montmarte were my two favorite days with plenty of goodness (and LOTS of art) in between. I was struck down by food poisoning one night. The attack was intense enough that I passed out and hit my face on the way down (in my hotel bathroom) but once again luck was on my side as the black eye from the fall waited until I was on my way home to "bloom." Although the attack was violent and I was alone, it was rather quick-lived and I was able to recover and resume Paris goodness. Plus a good friend from home arrived in Paris with her friend at about the same time as the attack so Raymond knew that if I had to be taken care of then she would step up and mother me. While in the bathroom (for the second time) of the Museum in Monet's house (I was still recovering) I remember thinking happily how I was sooooo inspired all I wanted to do was draw and draw and draw (and then I remembered that is all I wanted to do before I left for Paris). I laughed out loud. Happy as hell.
