This afternoon, Bri and I decided to go on a bike ride. You'd think through all the sleep deprivation I'd maybe decide to work on some homework or something during that time period, but i have finally come to the conclusion that even on the nights that I don't have homework, my head rarely hits the pillow earlier than 2:30 in the morning. The time that the books have been sufficiently hit has hardly any relevancy to when my eyes begin to droop. So furthermore, a bikeride it was.
Today was one of those perfect fall days. If it could be this exact weather for all year round, for the exception of summer (which I would prefer to be 20-25 degrees warmer and sunnier) my feelings would be nothing short of blissful. The temperature was chilly enough to kiss your cheek with a touch of cold, but not so much that it froze in all the way to the bones. I think most refer to it as "crisp" autumn air. All that is really required is a light jacket. It was sunny earlier, though the clouds were out by time we went for our ride. It's also prime leaf-color observation time. It's almost like a continuous sunset. It dresses the earth in oranges, reds, and yellows, instead of the monotonous green, brown, and gray. It was also windy today, but it was a warm wind. When the wind blows through my hair and against my face, I kinda feel like Pocahontas. When I was a kid, the rain water would collect in the cover of the pool, and the leaves would fall in, and I would sit on the deck and pretend I was in a canoe, paddling around, occasionally bursting out in "Just Around the Riverbend." Not only do leaves appeal to the eyes, but the ears and feet too. There's just something about that dried-leaf-under-shoe crunch. I was actually so distracted by aiming for the crunchiest looking leaves with my front bike tire that I didn't notice that Bri had stopped and ended up running right into her before realization had traveled to my hands.
We rode through a cozy little neighborhood of charming houses tucked between trees and winding pavement. One of the houses totally looked like seven dwarfs could be walking out of it, following a pale girl with dark hair and a screechy singing voice. I also saw a young couple painting the front porch of their house. I got lost in a daydream, thinking of when someday I'd be with my own husband and we'd be standing there, little country crock butter container full of paint in one hand, paint brush in the other, painting our little house with its little front porch. I think riding around that neighborhood, running over crunchy leaves, made me feel like a kid again.
There are few times when I am truly content. I think riding my bike around a neighborhood on a beautiful fall day is one of those times. The only way it could have been any better would be if I had gotten to eat a fresh donut and sipped on some apple cider.
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