The Native Iowan

Sunday afternoon here in QLD. A nice warm day with a bit of breeze. Lets have a look around the globe: (in celsius) Palmwoods = 29c, Des Moinse = -1c, London = 2c, Sweptstone = -1c, Missoula = -2c, Los Alamos = -3c, Pasadena = 9c.

I am thinking today about “maturity”, being mature.

I am assisting my 18yrold Grandson, Angelo, into his next stage of “mature” life, University. I’m not doing much for him, but I keep the pressure up, keep checking on his progress. I talk to him about maturity. MATURITY AND RESPECT.

I’d like to sound wise and wax prophetically about the past, how growing up was different and how “coming of age” now a days is alien to “what is wiz in de-daay”,. But thats BS at best. Life is a drama, a struggle, a battle from day one to day zero. Its not easy for a young-guy, period. Its not easy for a young-gal, period. Just like its not easy for an old fart. Or a middle aged mother of four, or… Life just aint meant to be easy.

Joyful, tearful, scarred-up, bruised, scraped, abraded… sure, daily. But never easy.

I kinda see much of life similar to the perverse propensity to watch scary-as-shit movies. Or to hop on scary-as-fuck roller coasters. We like the buzz. We need the buzz. To coin a bit of WE… we all need to feed the rat. A shot of adrenaline is great Rat food.

My RAT likes speed. Likes exhaust fumes and good brakes.

Got away- for-the-day on two-wheelz the other day. Had to go check up on the ’61 Thunderbird.

So a nice 5hour round-trip ride. Down in the morning, an hour of bike talk, then run back. Traffic was good. My old BMW is running well…

I forget that the best thing about a decent bike ride is the isolation. Gear up and you’re in an isolation chamber. Not totally isolated but perhaps separated, a part from the immediate world. It goes back to n”be here now”.

Two-Wheelz are deadly. Riding is not easy. It takes concentration. The more concentration the better you ride.

I slept really well that night.

So, as the world turns, as boys become girls, as feminists become apologists…

Don’t forget to feed your RAT.

Smiles