On the way home last night I stopped at a church near my home. The landscape had that intense end of autumn feel where the sky seems bloated with the color and shape of snow. Looking across the cemetery I experienced a flood of memories extending back to childhood and while not all of them were pleasant I was grateful for the experiences and being able to accept them. As I walked around I saw this tree standing as a silent witness to the world — much like I was to my own world.

Last night I had a dream about my dog Iggy Pup. It was one of those dreams that is so real that you see, smell and touch. Iggy Pup was a big American Foxhound and possessed all the qualities of a stubborn and ingenious hound.

How does this relate to riding and memory aside from the random experience described above? For the past few years I have been working to pay attention more to my life and not allow myself to be devoured by things that rob me of what is important. The noise and chaos of everyday living can easily put a man to sleep. I did not want to wake up on my death bed and realize I squandered my life. I have used writing, photography, video and now riding as tools to pay attention. The link to the video below was made to help me understand, pay attention to, and accept things that were part of my life. And not just the good things like a loving family, a good job, friends and a scooter in the garage but also those difficult transitions that we all face eventually. As I thought about my experience on the way home yesterday I realized that the Vespa has a powerful ability to heighten my awareness not only of the road but my entire life. And from that awareness I form memory, something important to who I am.

For those of you who ride recreationally this might seem a stretch. For those riders who have succumbed to the siren song and ride longer than seems prudent you may already be experiencing some of these unexpected gifts. Life unfolds at its own pace whether we are paying attention or not and I do not want to miss any of it.