I got back Saturday afternoon from the week of RAGBRAI. My eighth one in a row (except for 2020 … it was canceled). People have asked me: 1. Did you do the whole week? (yes) 2. Were the hills really awful? (yes). They also say, “Why do you do this? You must really like biking.” I like to ride my bike, but I love the concept of bringing people together to achieve a huge task. I love being associated with a team that cares for each other and looks out for each and every person, and everyone pitches in to contribute to the greater good. The ISH Ragbrai team is a mini ISH.
I lost my glasses in Atlantic, Iowa. It was fine because I think it was God’s way of saying, “Your glasses are stupid, and you’d do better without them.” I agree. Sometimes divine intervention is necessary to correct the wrongs in this world … like my glasses.*
(((Note: my glasses just came back. The wonderful, fantastic hosts from Atlantic, Iowa, sent them to me. I now have to change my perspective and reflect on whether they are stupid or not. I was already in the space of “stupid” and now I have to change my whole perspective. For example, if a couple breaks up, and you comment/agree on the one that wasn’t your friend to begin with {“that’s awesome for you - she/he was not a good person, and they smelled bad"} and then they get back together. Sigh.)))
My next adventure is playing music (the praise band and the ukulele society) at the Iowa State Fair. This happens at 12:30pm and 1:30pm on Friday the 16th at the Mid-American Stage. Then, there will be the big annual party in my backyard (with the band The Sons of Gladys Kravitz and Thirsty Pigs food and drink, and I think an ice cream truck) for y’all. It’s going to be a big day. I think after that … I’m going to take a big and well-deserved nap.
*After I got my new glasses, people would say, “Oh, did you get new glasses?” but not, “Oh, you got new glasses - they make you look really good.” I should have lost them earlier.
