Tuesday, December 29, 2009
In October I wrote a response to a question posted by one of my uncles about what the perfect day would be. Since he hadn't heard from me for a few years, I condensed much detail into two paragraphs:
I had lots of near-perfect days during undergrad (i.e. up until a year ago), when I was living in Lubbock. Like yours, this involved intense physical activity. Every day, I woke up at four to ride my bike around campus (Texas Tech) until the gym opened at five; I'd do the elliptical, lift weights, and read German, Latin, or Greek on a recumbent bike. Then I'd rip off my sweaty clothes and do twenty laps in the open-air pool, as the sun rose. Then I'd shower (no water bill- essential for the poor college kid) and go to class or work (work nixes the "perfect" of any day); sometimes, I would stop by the deli on campus, where I used to be a manager, for a complimentary burrito breakfast (free food- essential for the poor college kid). At any time I didn't have work or class, I would bike to the locally-owned coffee shop, where everyone knew me and I could always talk to the owner if I didn't feel like getting any work done. In the evening, if I felt bloated from having eaten out with friends, I would swim again, and I almost always rode the bike around campus for another hour again.At the moment, I am considering seriously selling everything I own and moving to a warmer, drier clime, if I am not accepted into another school this fall. Living someplace where it rains four or five days per week, where I have no car, is sehr unbueno.
A delightful consequence of such an active lifestyle, for a female, is that it can shut down the menstrual cycle for months; ergo, living life was utter bliss. Since moving to Lexington for grad school, I cannot be nearly as active: the dread menstrual cycle has returned, and with it, all woe and gloom.
Too much information?
Noted lack of involvement with children in this scenario, but that's mostly due to the fact that, unlike, oh, my own parents, I do not think it is best to raise children when one is an extremely distant person emotionally, and not financially stable besides.
Too long a message? Anyhow, I am glad you had a wonderful day, and wish you and the munchkins many more.
xoxo, The Lauree Child.
Labels: bicycle, burrito, children, coffee shop, day, friends, Lubbock, parents, rain, recumbent bike, swimming, Texas Tech, uncle
[Lauree Frances Keith concluded this diatribe at 9:04 AM]