I agree with you Terry. The fog is prevalent. And it takes something intense to see through it.

I think that sadness is hugely seductive. It is most often, intensely felt which, is opposite to fog like state many of us find ourselves walking around in lately. The intensity of our feelings remind us what it feels to vibrate with life.

It’s good to see your presence here Michael. I think about you often as I see your world through your photographs shared on Instagram.

You’re absolutely right, we both drew aces. Even the worst of experiences don’t dim that truth. As you approach your retirement I’ll be approaching five years of retirement. The days fly by. Time is a scary thing. And as you say, each day is random at some level. Chin up, I’m paying attention, and excited to see what’s next.

Best wishes to you, your wife, and Rusty as you work and travel on toward retirement!

I think all the things you’ve shared help explain the seductive nature of sadness. For sure I can’t appreciate happiness without understanding sadness. And most of the time, a ride, a walk with a camera, or sitting down to the blank page to write will help lessen the suffering I may be feeling.

The top case is a must have for me. On the motorcycle the side bags play that role but they are not nearly as useful. They’re frustrating to open and close as often as I do the topcase on the scooter.

Normal? Who knows what that might be. Ask me next year!

Sadness seems so sweet and sour and possessed of an inexplicable seductive attraction. What is it about sadness that so attracts us, is it the guaranteed rebound induced by the therapeutic scoot or it’s subjective alternate? Can you truly enjoy the sweet without enjoying a bit of the sadness. That top case thing has become an indispensable for me, a real go to. Kind of like turning your moto into a scooter with all that oh so convenient under seat storage. The tag along lunch has become the norm for us too this past year or so as we were never sure as to what might be open for business. Pack a Moto sized chair and choose from any one of a number of bucolic vantage points, reflect a moment or two and the Worlds your oyster. We feel that as we return to “normal” some of the oh so positive adaptions we have made over the past year plus will stick and become standard operating procedure. Or so we would like to think?

For some reason Tom, your first attempt to post went to my Spam folder. Not sure why. Maybe it didn’t like the first word capitalization!

You’ve written a haiku that captures the essence of the stop for lunch. Thank you for sharing that. You’ve managed to share the feeling as I danced around it.

I wish I could just jump on the scooter or motorcycle whenever I noticed a sad spell on the horizon. Unfortunately, circumstances don’t always allow me to be away. I have to adjust my expectations and find other ways to ward off those spells. I’ve been resistant to the need to change but change I must.

Change is a bitch.

We’re in much the same line of thought when it comes to top cases. And I know exactly what you mean about fresh fruit and vegetables under the seat.

The top box functionality wins. On my BMW K75 I have side cases. They are much more frustrating to use.