Beauty and peace are where we perceive.


This morning I left my home with a temperature of 44 degree F (7 degree C). That was with a thermometer standing still on my front porch. The wind chill temperature when I was moving at 75 miles per hour (120 km/h) must be a lot lower. For comparison, 44 degree F with a wind speed of 60 mph feels like 30 degree F


I could feel the chill when I started moving. Incredibly, a good chill going to my head through my helmet's vents and all my body. Not an uncomfortable cold but a "good cold", a cold that makes me feel I was so much sharper and clearer in my mind. My body went with the flow, felt every single ripple on the roads; I and my motorcycle became one. I was the motorcycle and the motorcycle was me. Sneaking thru the traffic like a hot knife thru butter and sailed under the early morning sun that painted the world in a beautiful golden shade.


Splitting through the rush hour traffic. Going between 2 lanes of cars. A big bus was blocking the carpool lane but moved away seeing my approach. I waved to the driver after I passed. Thanking the driver who extended a courtesy to a motorcycle rider. Another truck, another car, they all moved out so slightly that I could tell they said: "ok, this is the best I could do. Be careful". I passed again, waved back with my left hand, again thanking them for their kindness. Saw a yellow GTO, a new sport car in front. I said to myself, "oh oh, is this go-fast driver going to let me thru or will he think I'm challenging his authority?" To test his kindness and courtesy, I moved over to the right, showing myself in his right hand side mirror, following at a distance of a car's length.


He saw me. He moved over to the left and left me room to pass. I closed the throttle for a split second, squeezed the clutch and clicked down 1 gear. I opened the throttle and zipped past him in a millisecond. I passed. Again I waved back with my left hand and thanked him. Now my left arm is getting sore. That's the only way I could express my gratitude to the drivers I passed. This is good. Who said that people in Los Angeles are mean and inconsiderate?


I passed an ambulance, again I waved. I passed a pickup truck. I waved. I passed a Honda civic, I waved. Then I lost count...


Finally I got thru an empty stretch of freeway. I moved to my own lane. Then from the corner of my eyes, I saw a flash of yellow color beside me. I turned my head. It was the GTO. I pointed to his car, raised my thumb to mean "hey, nice car!" He understood. Gave me a nod then accelerate with a throaty exhaust note. I think, cool. I accelerated too. Passed him. He accelerated. I accelerated. Then I reached my destination at work. We waved to each other. Thumbs up to each other. "What a great day!" We said to each other, silently...


Who says that you can't have fun everyday?