Chove, chuva....

Hey where did we go? Days when the rains came?

Salvador da Bahia. 

I chose to get wet. 

And it was really wonderful! A few things need to be said though. 

On my way home tonight, a woman stepped right in front of me without looking and I went straight on into her. Instead of stopping or at least looking back to see if she was ok, I turned around to yell at her and tell her to be careful, and went on my way. I was thinking how incredibly good that felt--because (and this is not an exaggeration) at least 2-3 times every bike ride, someone walks in front of me or cuts me off or almost hits me--and I scream and curse at them in a mixture of English and Portuguese and I am always left feeling so bitter and angry. But something about today, about actually hitting this woman and knowing it was her fault and I could see on her terrified face that she knew it too, and yelling at her and knowing she got the message and SHE WAS WRONG made me feel extremely triumphant. 

It is like a war. Bike vs. cars. And those assholes are always getting the better of me but today I won!

I was passing car after car and cackling wildly-HA! HA HA! YOU ARE STOPPED DEAD IN TRAFFIC AND I AM CRUISING BY YOU AND GETTING TO MY DESTINATION 5 TIMES FASTER THAN YOU! I AM WET AND HAPPY CAUSE I HAVE GREAT MUSIC! AND ALL THOSE TIMES YOU GAVE ME DISGUSTED LOOKS AND CUT ME OFF ARE NOW BITING YOU IN THE ASS CAUSE WHO IS WINNING NOW!?? BIKE IS BETTER!!!

But, wait a minute--there is something wrong with this picture. What kind of monster have I turned into? War? Have I gone mad? I have let the prejudice towards bikers completely overrun me with anger. I have not risen above it. I am worse than they are. 

And I thought this. And I still felt really happy that I was passing cars. But it wasn't because I was winning. It was because I was grateful. Grateful to have a bike that gets me everywhere faster than a car or bus would, even when it isn't raining. And I felt bad about not stopping to see if the woman was ok. 

Needless to say, I think I have learned a lesson today. Cultural differences make me angry, but when I let that anger control me, I am miserable. And if I smile and just keep pedaling, I can just float on by. 

I never want to own a car again. Maybe to keep around to take trips with, or haul wood or do farm stuff, you know. But never to drive around the city. The benefits of a bike are endless. And if you can enjoy biking in the rain, then there are no cons. 

Not to mention that Phish's Miner's Picks Laid Back 98 Funk did not hurt.