I came into work early today to finish a design project for the Regional HIV center, yet now find myself compelled to write. Like most mornings, it’s my favorite time of the day. I set out early, it’s not overly hot, the streets are relatively quiet, and the ride is almost all downhill. Much of it I ride no-handed, just for the fun and freedom of it (and a little bit to show anyone who is looking that women can do these things). Along the way today, perfectly timed, Guaranteed started to play – one of my favorite Eddie Vedder songs.

As I turned down the dirt road to my office, this guy greeted me. An odd spotting, as it was at a gas station. I decided to stop to take his picture and as I did so, a man’s voice made it past my headphones. I turned to see him smiling, gesturing, and making what sounded like all kinds of suggestions. I smiled and shrugged, saying “English”, and nodded my head toward his donkey – it seemed he just wanted to be in the photo too.

Next stop, office gate, and this beautiful girl making the most of her ability to reach the mulberry tree. She even let me feed her, and better still, without showing any signs of fear.

There is a gift around every corner – lucky, lucky us.

 

Guaranteed, by Eddie Vedder

On bended knee is no way to be free
Lifting up an empty cup, I ask silently
That all my destinations will accept the one that’s me
So I can breathe

Circles they grow and they swallow people whole
Half their lives they say goodnight to wives they’ll never know
Got a mind full of questions and a teacher in my soul
And so it goes

Don’t come closer or I’ll have to go
Owning me like gravity are places that pull
If ever there was someone to keep me at home
It would be you

Everyone I come across in cages they bought
They think of me and my wandering but I’m never what they thought
Got my indignation but I’m pure in all my thoughts
I’m alive

Wind in my hair I feel part of everywhere
Underneath my being is a road that disappeared
Late at night I hear the trees they’re singing with the dead
Overhead

Leave it to me as I find a way to be
Consider me a satellite forever orbiting
I know all the rules but the rules did not know me
Guaranteed