night ride - Friday night

A night ride can change everything. My bike is my magic carpet to freedom, to adventure, to playfulness. The dark sky, the street lights, the cool night air, the sound of my tires on the pavement. This is a story of the joy riding can bring, even in the middle of physical pain...

After too many years of neglecting my teeth and ignoring my dentist, I finally went back - after I broke a tooth. Unfortunately, my foolish oversight has led to a long schedule of procedures, including several hours in the chair this past Friday morning. I left the doctor's office with a mouth full of Novocaine, and a head full of pain killers. I slept most of the day - rather, fell in and out of a haze of drifting sleep and fitful dreams.

When I finally partially woke up, it was nearly 6pm and I hadn't eaten all day. My mouth was still mostly numb, and my head was still full of pain killers, but I had to get out of my apartment - it was such a beautiful spring day that I had missed, and it was quickly turning into a beautiful and warm evening. I changed into comfortable street clothes, and got on my bike for a _very_ slow ride. Trust me when I say that I know how to ride slowly. old women with canes pass me. little children walking backwards pass me. slow.

I rode into Inman Square to my favorite, small cafe for meals - where the women who own the place and work there always welcome me with a smile and warm greeting. I had a bowl of soup and a glass of Malbec - delicious, nourishing, calming and just what the doctor ordered.

And then I was off - riding to Fan Pier on the waterfront for the final evening of celebrations around the international sailboat race that has been docked and hanging out in Boston all month. I got there in time to catch the tail end of some Irish musicians and step dancers, but while I was wandering through the crowd, a friend came up and called out to me. ah! THIS is who I came to see - Samba Tremeterra were the last performers for the evening. I had stumbled onto their rehearsals in Union Square a few weeks ago - they let me watch and revel in their loud and thundering drums and beautiful dancers - they didn't kick me out of their rehearsal and invited me back the following week. Tonight, I finally had a chance to see them perform on stage, in full regalia, with a large, loud and appreciative audience. It only took moments for the crowd to understand that this was Samba - this was celebration - this was joy and music - and the cheering began! And when the dancers came out, first in modest white, ceremonial dresses, and then later in full festival attire - the crowd was joyous with wild abandon! And we all danced!

But then I had to leave - I wish I could have been in two places at once, but the evening was turning so wonderful and I wanted to experience it all. Earlier that week, I had met a new friend who told me about a different kind of dance - a slower dance, a soulful and sensual dance, a dance of interpretation and spirit, a community of people who gather to dance together. I didn't quite understand, but I desperately wanted to learn. So I rode through the late night, through the cooling Boston streets, out to Brookline, to see and to watch and to learn how this community dances and celebrates. I got there near midnight, just a half an hour until their dance ended. I removed my shoes - it was a barefoot dance - and was greeted warmly and allowed to enter a large room, dimly lit with colorful lights and the dj playing soulful, deep trance music. I found a large, soft couch and sat down to rest from my ride and watch the dancers around me. People were dancing in pairs. people were dancing by themselves. people were dancing in groups. some twirling, some slow and sinuous and slinky, some just holding on and rocking slowly back and forth. I know if I should choose to return, I will be greeted warmly and enjoy the dance.

And then the evening was over and it was time for my ride home. Riding the night streets, through Brookline. through Allston. though Cambridge. back to Arlington. I love this city. I love to ride at night.