I was walking the dog this afternoon, the sun was shining and a fall breeze was pushing newly dried leaves across the sidewalk. I was lost in thought; visions of back to school and days of yore; when a motorcycle screeched to a stop at the corner. I’m not up on motorcycles, one looks much the same to me as any other, this one was black. The rider was dressed in appropriate attire; black leather jacket, shiny skid-lid and shades; he looked suitably biker-ish but unremarkable, save for the music blaring from his bike and the grey wisps of hair sneaking out from under his helmet. One might expect a cool cat on a motorcycle to ride to some heavy metal, base booming tune – alas, this decked out dude was rocking to ‘Sweet City Woman’. A golden oldie even to my ancient ears.
I was hurled back through time faster than that biker dude took the corner and sped off. Forty five years disappeared in a split second. There is something nostalgic about September even without toe tapping inspiration – September stirs up all sorts of memories. Today’s nostalgia was different though. Today I was taken back to a place after graduation, after I was finished school. Back to a place before kids, before marriage. A place bracketed, a place between.
‘Sweet City Woman’. Not the coolest song even back in its day but influential just the same. The lyrics were immediately familiar, ‘I’m on my way….’ .. It isn’t a song about a ‘now’, it’s about a promise. It made me think about my time between, when I was on my way to who knew where – to my life, the one designed for me. A part of me believes in destiny, in a guiding force, but not totally. I believe in free will AND design. I believe in something greater than me, I’m just not sure what that looks like. I have faith – I think – I know I want to have faith.
These days I have a lot of questions and this random old guy on a motorcycle prompted some serious introspection. Some guy who probably didn’t even notice my dog and I waiting to cross the street inspired thought on the biggest question of all. Are we here by chance or design? How much of my life was pre-determined? How much did I choose? I feel like I have entered another place between – a place between kids and marriage and whatever is going to happen next. ‘I’m on my way’ again.
Comments (2)
It impresses me how much the great architect of life has in store for all of us . This journey you are on has a similar thread to many of those before us. It is how we react and how we persevere that makes the difference. There is no rehearsal for this. It just happens. Fall is a beautiful promise as we look forward to something new. An exciting new purpose perhaps! It thrills me also to read my thoughts written by someone much more articulate, but non the less tender. Keep feeling….
Les – you say the most lovely things….