Okay… as many of you know I don’t watch the TV news or read newspapers.
I prefer to live in my own self-imposed ignorant bliss. It’s a simple life I lead.
Plus, I’m the eternal optimist… especially when it comes to my morning
biking routine. Some times a bad combination…

So I get up this morning for another ride. I can see from my back balcony that some
clouds are forming over the lake – and I think ‘might make for a good sunrise?!’
So I quickly throw on some clothes and start pedaling…

As I get further down the lakefront… I see a flicker of light in the corner of my eye…
and think it’s odd to see a streetlight flicker like that. But sometimes they do that
as they are turning off, ya’ know?! And then there was another one?… coincidence?
So I keep pedaling and I can see that there is a nice glow of red on the horizon.
I start planning where I’m going to stop for the sunrise photo. What’s that?…
a little grumbling sound off in the distance?!

I stop off between Waveland and Addison for the photo op… oblivious… unaware…
but sadly, the pink sunrise never really materialized. More grumbling…
instead it kind of “melted” into the cloud cover in the distance. More grumbling.
Is it just the disappointed grumbling in my head?… or my empty stomach?… no…
wait… that’s not grumbling… that’s thunder!

Which suddenly makes sense… and the flickers of light were lightning!!!
Yep. I’m a quick one. My morning ah-ha moment.

As I turn and look around, the clouds are closing in quickly… and before I can pack it in,
the rain starts. A few small drops at first. Then the skies opened up and it poured.
And there I was, miles from home… preparing for my hasty retreat!!!

At first it’s kind of annoying – getting soaked when I should be enjoying the ride.
But at some point, the humor and enjoyment of the situation returns.
And I accept the fact that I’m soaked through and through. Jersey. Shorts. Shoes.
Once you’re wet you can’t get any wetter!

So I slowed down and pedaled on in my own self-imposed ignorant bliss.
Soaked. Dripping. Happy.

I’m just hoping that this storm rolled through early and it might clear the way
for the weekend… because I’m not looking forward to setting up for the art fair
in Hinsdale in the pouring rain this afternoon. Nor, standing there dripping wet
all weekend. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Once again, unaware and happy
in my own little dream world.

Ignorant bliss.
I can’t change the weather, so why worry about it?