Why I ride my bicycle...

Apricot tree full of fruit in the Animas Valley...

I woke up in a funk and could not get of bed easily. I did manage to get up because I knew it was a beautiful day outside.

I could do maybe 7 minutes of yoga which helped me to find my breath and take some long deep inhalations. The anxiety subsided enough to sit and pray and meditate for another 6 minutes before I totally zoned out and went on to something else.

There is such a fine line between grief and feeling depressed. 

I got out of the house and went for a ride in the valley. It felt great to be out and not just exercising but also breathing fresh air with all the scents and aromas of the forest and riparian area warming in the sun. It's good for the soul. Then I encountered this tree, one of a dozen out there and I remember what abundance, wonder and joy there is in the world.

Fresh apricots off of a living tree is a gift.

It took about 3 hours to ride what should be an hour and a half. There is just too much to see and look at. There are horses to try and get the attention of, people to greet. Best of all I had shared ice water with Debbie and Chuck whose house I passed along the way.

The simple gifts...