WHERE I am seated, I see my yellow bike with its lovely basket.
It is Japan made; and in Japanese, it is called mamachari (mom’s bicycle).
***
I think it is also called the butcher’s bike.
A butcher’s bike typically has a basket or storage box mounted within the frame on the front of the bike; and there was a time when advertising signs were attached within the triangle of the bike frame.
***
Because I can’t help being stereotypical about this, maybe a little sexist, I describe it as a most feminine bike.
So yeah, I got a most feminine bike.
But this bike has traveled thousands of kilometers with me already.
***
I am doing the Great Wall of China virtual challenge at this time.
The goal is to cover 3,513 kilometers (2,183 miles).
Because I had so many gout flares in the early part of the year, I gave myself one year and a half (546 days) to finish it.
***
The virtual challenge allows for bike rides, swimming, hiking, dancing, and other exercises.
Sailing if I could do it. Haha.
But mostly, it’s just my daily steps for me.
***
When I could not walk because of acute gout attacks, I bike.
Originally, it was just short distances around town.
I was determined to do more walking than biking for my Great Wall challenge.
And then, I decided to do more biking.
Like I would bike around 8 miles (12.8 kms) a day to and from my farm, or around the coastal road loop of Dumangas.
***
I’m in my regular coffeeshop.
And quite finishing my first order of brewed barako.
It’s like a cup and a half for P20.
It has started to rain, and it’s 7:38 am.
The coffeeshop music is decidedly modern today.
Something I cannot hum along with.
***
I’m the lone customer at this time.
Like I’m the rain-or-shine kind of customer.
I usually open this coffeeshop.
I sometimes close it. Haha.
***
God!
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody” the song just played.
But it’s not Whitney Houston.
It’s someone called Nora Van Elken.
***
My last solid food was at 5:00 pm yesterday.
It was a big chocolate crinkle, and not the chewy type.
I had coffee with a widow who was flogging her son with insults in their store.
I told her to give the son a break, and go have coffee with me.
My treat!
***
When we arrived at the coffeeshop—this coffeeshop that I’m sitting in right now as I write this, it was a little crowded so we joined the table of an acquaintance.
Chit-chat, chit-chat!
And despite my insistence, that mutual acquaintance paid for our coffee.
***
When the acquaintance left, I let the widow pour out her heart.
No need for more coffee.
She would palpitate more! Haha.
When she has simmered down, we walked back to her store via the plaza.
***
Between the coffeeshop and the plaza was a new bakery.
I was craving for some sugar.
I mean, I took my coffee black while the widow had milk and sugar in her coffee.
The crinkle was P15, but it was big.
So we just shared it.
***
I like that I can walk and bike around my town with ease.
At anytime of the day.
As the widow said, I am so much more different from the other balikbayans.
Like I am more grounded, more down to earth, more accessible.
Like I am not afraid of the heat, or the rain.
Like I am not fancy or pretentious.
Like I am not worried about being seen with anyone./PN
