Wheels

Following a string of 40-plus-degree days that melted most of the lingering ice, I embarked on my first bike ride of the season. I was fully prepared for it to hurt. I recalled last year's first ride, which left me gasping for air and feeling a strong desire to throw up. This year, it was my hands and face that were burning rather than my lungs and legs. It was still probably a bit too cold, and the wind rushing across my exposed flesh left my fingers and ears numb. But aside from that, it was a very pleasant ride. I even pedaled against the wind up a long hill and found myself only reasonably winded at its summit.

Apparently the frequent unemployment walks I took this winter gave me some physical stamina. That and making endless rounds amongst the copy machine, printer, binding machine, and errant accountants' offices at Tax Place. While I expected to have some humourous-in-hindsight stories about my pedaling plight, the lack of physical pain I experienced means that a more interesting scenario involves wheels powered by an engine. Before I went to Australia, I had been borrowing my parents' third car when I needed to go somewhere. They and I both thought that I would be gone much longer than I actually was, and they sold the car about a month before I came home. This made it more difficult to go to class, go to my shifts at the Walker--go anywhere.

Luckily Raf and Laura went to Canada a few weeks ago. Luckily, Raf and Laura were generous enough to let me borrow their car whilst they were gone. I had just dropped them off at the airport and driven to work, exalting all the way about my new four-wheel freedom, when I received an email from Andy's parents offering to let me borrow their car when they went to Colorado the following week. I was thrilled at the prospect of having a car for three weeks, and scheduled every conceivable thing to which I would need to drive within that period of time.

But it got even better. Andy's parents decided to let me use Andy's car until he comes home in May. I must admit I teared up a little when he told me. To the people who lend me their vehicles, it may not seem like a huge deal (maybe it does and I just don't realise it). But, for someone who lives in a part of Maple Grove where the nearest coffee shop is a two-hour walk away with no transportation besides the Monday-through-Friday morning and evening rush-hour bus service, having a car is a significant luxury. I met Russdad and Dianemom for dinner and picked up the beautiful green Subaru about a week ago. It has made everything much easier and more accessible.

It has also opened up some new opportunities. I was interested in volunteering at the Soap Factory in addition to the Walker, but I didn't think I'd have reliable access to a car. After discovering that I'd have my own means of transport, I immediately signed up for one of the orientation sessions. It's coming up this Saturday. Working there will be an interesting contrast to the Walker, since it's a much smaller gallery with no permanent collection (as far as I know). That means there will be a lot more exhibitions coming through, which subsequently means more opportunities for me to witness or talk to people about how they curate the shows.

From a much easier first-ride-of-the-season to borrowing a car of my own, the wheel situation is greatly improved this year. Now I can focus on other aspects of life I'd like to improve over last year, like my job. I consider myself very lucky to have basically had the vehicle situation straightened out for me, and I'm hoping that luck holds out.