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It’s rain time in San Luis Potosí. I love the rain. I remember Mexico City in the rain. It could bring memories of my mother, taking me somewhere. Or walking in the rain with my friend Agustín.

But here, in San Luis, it doesn’t rain that much. So when it does, I feel happy.

Last Friday, it rained. It was dark when I got my bike and started riding, slowly. The air was fresh, and the smell that the rain brings is unique. I rode for some 30 minutes, with no aim but riding.

Those are great moments, when you can enjoy what you are doing, aware of what you’re feeling, living the moment.

Decluttering, one of my tasks. This photo is from a studio corner. And like in this place, I really have to go over all that I have to accomplish what I want.

So I have been happy doing my homework. Happy to see how some places started to look better. Amazed to feel no guilt in giving away things that were here because “my father gave it to me”.

But a few days ago I went with my daughter to buy something for the office. After a “harsh” remark she said, I felt really bad, angry. How is it possible of her to say something in such a way?

I was mad at the moment. Even my wife asked me what was the problem. I started thinking of how that could be said to me, the father, the one who takes care of the family, the important one….and a veil disappeared. I could see, then, the problem: my big ego.

After some time, I realized that I shouldn’t feel that way. The problem was, in fact, how I felt.

Then I started to realized that, in several occasions, it was me who took it personal. I was the one that make simple remarks into something that made me angry.

It’s not that I don’t know that these things happen. But suddenly I could see my reaction. The way I took this remarks as offences, directed to me. But, definitely, it shouldn’t be that way.

So I discovered something else to deal with. An important one.

Now I smile, when remembering what happened. I know that, when something like this happens again, I might react the same way, but can’t stay angry again. I want to be conscious of what happens, and, with some practice, stop doing it.

Last 25th marked two months since my father’s death.

We miss him, yes, but we’re must grateful and happy to have had that father, those parents.

It has been a time of sharing with my siblings. A time of sharing memories.

It has been a long long time since I posted here.

On February 25th my father passed away. It is something that make the feelings move from one to another.

My father, The General, as one of my sisters use to call him. And that is because he was actually a General from the Mexican Army. A dedicated army man, an ingeneer that built schools for Mexico City Government, and appartements for soldiers. A devoted country man in his retirement, growing crops, breeding sheep and enjoying the peace of the country. A devoted husband and father.

I haven’t ride my bike for quite a time now. One knee was injured, just because. The years of Tae Kwon Do, many injuries, overweight, old age maybe, are to be blamed.

Two weeks ago I started riding again. Today I went shopping, and I rode my classic beauty, a Raleigh from the seventys. It’s nice to ride a bike with a lot of family history. My father bought it in 1976. Then, a niece had it for a time. Some years ago, my father got it back and gave it to me.

So today I’m back, riding and writing again.

Even though here the winter doesn’t look as cold and gray as in other places, the temperature drops, mornings are cold. So riding feels different. Also, since I’m on vacations, I have more time for thinking and be in the garden. It’s a time for family, and to be near some dear friends.

My father used to say to me to look back, and to foresee the year to come. And I tend to do so.

So I see a past year that was not that satisfying, and a new one with lots of creative work, and drawing, and prints. And many more kilometers on my bicycles!

Cheers!

Yesterday morning, while I was riding my bike, I was thinking of the new bicycle I want, a beautiful Temple, from England.

Well, I have enough bikes. The folding one, a Tern Link 08; the one that I was riding, a Viscount; an old Raleigh, a Sprite; an e-bike, that works great; and a Mercurio, from Mexico, that I use fore doing some errands. And now, I want a Brompton, that would take the place of the Tern (Really?!), and the blue Temple that may take the place of both the Mercurio and the Raleigh (although I have no intention of getting rid of the Raleigh). So, after some time, I was in shock. What happened to my new life plan? OK, I know it’s a plan that is going to take time, but I should do something different.

One difficult issue (for me) is the healthy eating. I knew from the beginning that this one would be hard. I’m overweight, I love food, and my eating habits are not the best. I’m working on it, doing some progress. With my weekly riding (3-4 times a week / 25 km) and some changes, I’m loosing weight and feel better.

I have managed to be disciplined in my morning zazen. This one most be the less difficult, since I have done it for a long time, and is the foundation of the whole plan.

But what about my dependency on things? Wow! This one is really something! I knew beforehand that I have many things, and needed order and some declutter. But I haven’t realized the real problem, the dimension of it. That doesn’t mean I should not buy the bicycle I want, but, why having so many? Or the number of smoking pipes I have, and planning to have some more. Or caps, or the old stuff, or….

Definitely, I need to work on this issue.

It was almost noon. I looked through the window, the possibility of rain was there. It was a 15 minute ride, and the return. Should I take my bike or not?

I’m one of those that keep promoting the bicycle as an alternative way of moving in the city. But San Luis Potosí, like many other cities in Mexico, is not the best place to venture on a bike. Any how, I keep on doing it, I promote it. But on a rainy day?

I was in the moment of decision, I needed to be on time. Conviction or comfort? I took my yellow poncho for the rain, my backpack, and there I was, riding my beloved Tern.

The ride was nice, there was no rain, and the feeling of being a good guy was great.