are sometimes smooth and silky, and other times tired and tight.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Chance encounters

It was warm, and slightly humid. At least warm and humid for Amsterdam.

I decide to go for a short ride, out to the Ronde Hoep. Nice and easy. No helmet, just sunglasses and cap. Since the sun was out, I put some oil on my legs, hoping to catch some extra tan. In short - i was being a big poseur.

Until two weeks ago, it was only took a hop, skip, and a jump to get out of town. Now I'm in the center, and have to go across town. While it takes more time, and can be a pain with all of the red lights, i prefer it. It reminds me that i'm living in a city (or something like a city).

Anyway, I'm making my way to the Amstel, and I pass a woman, wearing a green dress, and a black shirt. something about the profile that i catch out of the corner of my eye seems familiar.

I turn, and realize who it is.

Hala, I shout.

Who's that?, she asks.

Then she realizes it's me, and tells me that she's just back from seeing our mutual friend - which is how we know each other - in London.

Then I realize that I'm in my bike clothes, and suddenly become too self conscious for my own good. We exchange a few pleasantries, and I say goodbye.

After all of these years, you'd think I'd have gotten over that. Maybe it was the oil on the legs?

4 comments:

Pozzatto said...

It might just be not being able to talk to women...

Karma Chameleon said...

Shaver I think you lost your confidence without a helmet on. Would she think the future father of her children would ride a bike without a helmet?

Dave Wyman said...

>i was being a big poseur<

This was the anticipatory underpinning behind your self-consciousness.

Hida Yanra said...

it is the random things that I miss about living there - reading your greeting, "hala" took me back for just a moment... thank you.