Day 13: The sweet side of Groundhog Day

Day 13 miles to/from work: 13.6
Total miles for S4S: 330.3

Hearing the song I Got You, Babe floods me with memories of two lifetime favorites:  the movie Groundhog Day and Scott's and my wedding. Today's date, September 20—the date on which we met, got engaged, and got married in three Groundhog Day-like successive years—perfectly combines the two. It would have been unthinkable for our pre-ceremony music line-up not to include Sony and Cher belting out their love and ours in that 60s classic.

Many aspects of the S4S project have that "It's Groundhog Day!" feel about them. First thing every morning I check the weather forecast. (Might as well check out Tarot cards and crystal ball, but can't help myself.) Pick out and pack work clothes. Put on bike gear based on flawed weather report. Pack panniers. Grab panniers and 

power breakfast of coffee and banana. Load panniers on Silver Beauty, check tires, inhale the morning, feel grateful. Take a couple pictures. Hop on Silver Beauty and start that first pedal stroke. Anticipate/avoid known potholes, dips, cracks, and manhole covers. Admire the same landmarks, even though they take on a different personality every morning. Say hello to many of the same people. Even the sense of my body moving through space on the bicycle and the rhythm of the wheels take on the repetition of moving meditation. This morning, my own personal Groundhog Day, was (not surprisingly) no different—but as always, unique.

It was the quintessential  almost-fall morning with shimmering sun, sparkling skies, and an embracing temperature without a breath of wind. All I lacked were a scarecrow and hayride to complete the picture. Silver Beauty had to do, and as always, she was fantastic. Because Scott was picking me up after work for our anniversary dinner out, I knew this ride was a one-way trip, so no reason to preserve energy. I did some nice, long sprints that had my legs screaming by the time I got to the office. It felt great. Every breath was a gift, every pedal stroke a miracle. One of those mornings.

At the end of the work day, Scott picked me up at 5:00, we ran a couple errands, then went to our favorite restaurant, Liliana's. As we celebrated our personal Groundhog Day (and anniversary), I basked in the glory of what it is to find true love and be an AARP member all at the same time. I come from a family of late bloomers, and it's true that good things are worth waiting for. To Scott, my prince and my True Love, I can only say:  I got you, Babe. (And I'm so glad!)

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If the woman in the last picture looks slightly more ragged than the one at the top, consider that besides the fact that three years have elapsed, the woman in the wedding dress didn't 1) do her own hair and make-up, 2) ride her bike to work, or 3) work 8 hours.