It has been too long dear readers. I’ve been remiss in my blogging. But, but, but… I can’t control where my mind wanders, but today with the dawn of summer on the horizon and the promise that I will be on summer break is imminent, Elton John’s song popped to mind as if was the 1983 all over again.

"Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind." 

Elton John, "I'm Still Standing" lyrics.

Since my last post, I’ve been in survival mode. Typically, it’s manageable, but this school year, it feels like everyone I talk to is experiencing the same overwhelming situation. If you’re an educator, this year has been beyond comprehension. It’s been filled with countless meetings, constant planning, unexpected changes, and more meetings to discuss those plans and changes. The pressure of managing school, students, and constantly wondering what comes next has kept me awake countless nights. Thankfully, I’m still standing. I might be wobbly, but, I’m determined to make it to the very last day. And once that day arrives, I look forward to finally being able to put aside all these thoughts and concerns and start picking up the pieces of my life.

Easier said than done. It always is. There is always a period of decompression and rest. I’ll have anxiety dreams about all the ways I’ve failed but I’m hoping that period will be shortened by fact that we are getting out later than normal, thanks to Jack Frost who made a late appearance and canceled school for like four days. I digress.

Think mazes. I’ve been in one of those mazes made of high hedges. Each turn leads to another hedge and another and it’s possible that I’ll need to be air lifted out. It feels like I’ve been trapped in it. Each turn leads to a new challenge, and I’m constantly searching for a way out.

If it wasn’t for my commutes in the morning and evening, the quality of my life would be much worse. My rides are my solace. They are the daily vacation from the chaos. The rides let me reset and if I’m lucky I can work out the issues, at least in my mind, before I get home so I’m fretting a bit less.

Readers of my blog, I thank you for engaging. I appreciate seeing you click the LIKE star and I know that someone out there gets me. I get a little notification and I think, whoa, cool! My absence from my own blog has been rough on me. I set a goal to ride my bike a minimum of 75 miles a week, but writing 75 words a week has been the real hill in my life of late. I’m excited about my own personal routines outside of work, and I have got some stories to tell.

Like I found a bike using Bike Index and reunited it with its owner! Yeah, you are not going to want to miss that story. I also found a bike for a friend who had his totaled in an accident (he’s fine, but his bike didn’t survive). Oh, and I found someone’s phone and its handlebar holster and actually got it back to them. So many stories amidst the busy days. I can’t wait to tell you more.

I’m grateful for your support and patience and the plan is to write more, ride more and I’m still standing!

Stay safe out there.

Bike Goddess