wheels

photo by H.M. Free Mouse

May in France is full of holidays.

I was invited to a bicycle day in the mountains of the Trieve... It was a rainy day but we were prepared.

Smiles everywhere. Wheelchairs and feet. Abled and disabled.

It was a beautiful day on the moutain where I made even more friends.

It is such an honour to be able to cycle side by side with the people who have lost but are not lost.

the return

There is a certain strength in this line of mountains called the Alps.

Life has led me here. In the South East of France.

I found love here. Love and understanding. By a man and by a number of friends who smile and talk and have warm hearts. Is it the mountains? Is it the clean air? Is it the fact you are higher and talking to whatever God lies up there?

I have already talked about The Trieve. When I first came here, I was thinking "God, I would love to come back here!" What I did not know was that I would come again and again through the seasons, see snow, fog, rain, sun... I live so close to these mountains. I return to the smiles, these wonderful people.

More coming soon.

What is the craziest thing you've done? Not an easy answer...

I had 4 couchsurfers last week in my house for a couple of days. God knows how we managed to fit in my tiny apartment... I do love to meet new people especially if they have the capacity to bond instantly, like we did with these guys....
So one of them wanted to interview me. Being the ego freak that I am, I said yes!!
He asked me a lot of questions and I was cool and the conversation flowed easily. Until he asked one question.

What is the CRAZIEST thing you've done?

I blocked completely. Sat in silence for a few moments and tried to think. But I had no answer.

The interview came to an end, the company moved on their journey and I was stuck with this question.

What is the CRAZIEST thing you've done?

Why could I not give an answer? What was bothering me? Days passed and this was still in my mind. I finally managed to give some answers.

First, I was bothered by the word "crazy". We tend to name our greatest fantasies, dreams and achievements as crazy. Crazy is negative, degrading. Crazy is a label I find bad. People tell me I'm crazy and I call myself crazy, but it hurts deep inside. To be crazy is to be abnormal, to not fit, to not go by the rules.

Second, once you do something, it's not "crazy" anymore. Things look crazy and difficult before you go out there and try them. Once you've done them they give way to a new "crazy" idea, the next big adventure.

Third, we tend to think as "crazy" our big adventures, our positive outcomes. Yes, I was in Italy picking up olives. Yes, I hitchhiked in Lesbos with my dog. Yes, I went to Cairo all alone for three days.

What about the everyday craziness? What about the adventure of seeing someone through illness and accompanying him to his death? Wasn't that a big adventure? What about the four year psychotherapy circle which helped me see inside myself? Wasn't that crazy? Am I not proud of these too? Of course I am!

Yes, I have done some crazy, memorable, wonderful things in my lifetime.... But next time, Daniel, don't ask about "crazy" ask about our biggest adventures.

Oh, and thanks for the inspiration, this is my first 2015 post.

PS. Team Podstel is a group of 5 boys and girls - and growing - who are promoting the creativity of travellers. Here is their FB page Good luck guys!