Weighty Green Resolve

On Monday night hubby and I drove out to Alverno College to hear Michael Pollan speak on his latest book In Defense of Food. His catchphrase, to sum up the content, is "Eat food - not too much - mostly plants." I really like his writing (Second Nature, A Place of My Own, The Botany of Desire and The Omnivore's Dilemma) and was thrilled to get to hear him in person. While there we ran into one of hubby's old middle school students who has since grown up and this past summer got married. I enjoyed chatting with her very much, but was rather surprised to see her stand up after the talk, don a biking helmet and swing a packed messenger bag over her shoulder. She and her husband had biked to this event!
I should maybe explain. I wasn't surprised that any eco-conscious friends of ours on extremely limited newlywed student budgets would occasionally resort to using bicycles as transportation - I'm all for that, but it was damn COLD out that night! Like 14 degrees with a nasty wind, the evil enemy of bikers worldwide! I was freezing just walking from the parking lot to the auditorium, for Pete's sake. Well, you go girlfriend. I am so proud of you for doing your part for the planet and your own health. Just stay safe out there in the cold and dark. Glad to see the helmets.
I have often thought about leaving the van at home and just walking and/or biking where I need to go. This would certainly slow me down a bit, help our budget in more ways than one AND help whittle down my burgeoning waistline, which is now at a non-pregnancy record girth. I blame part of it on progesterone, which I am taking because of my endometriosis history, though I'm sure I've helped all by myself. But I am just too damn lazy to seriously give up my wheels. There is always a reason I might need them: a child gets sick or misses the bus, emergencies, inclement weather (read above for no excuses) and the inability to help out neighbors who might need a ride somewhere, as has happened twice in the past week. (What a noble excuse, huh?)
Today, instead of driving hubby 2.5 miles to his school, I agreed to relinquish the van and spend the day at home. I had an editing deadline to meet this morning and no carpool responsibilities on Wednesdays, and maybe this would be a good time to finally watch disks one and two of the second season of Six Feet Under that I have checked out of the library about 27 times and never watched, and without which I cannot move on to further episodes. So hubby left with the van. It was about an hour or so into the school day when I discovered the youngest child had left his tennis shoes behind. I called and asked if he was truly without shoes, and yes, he was wearning his snow boots around the school. I finished my editing and dug out my special ear protection specifically made for wearing under bicycle helmets, and my best wind-resistant x-country ski gloves. I got out the bike and attached the tennis shoes to the back rack and took off. Not bad. It was about 31 degrees when I left and there was a small breeze. I was fine - no cold spots, but rather a little too toasty by the time I got home. What was funny were the comments of people I met at school . . . "Wow, you've got guts to walk in here looking like that." "You didn't ride your bike, did you?" (To which I replied, "No, whenever there's ice on the sidewalks I like to protect my head in case I slip." Whaddya think?) I stopped at the bubbler (aka 'water fountain') before leaving and a child stopped and said, "Nice helmet."
"Thanks," I replied. "It protects my head."
So, I made it home, which was a little bit more work with a slight incline in the roads and more wind in my face than at my back, but no big deal. I am so proud of myself. Of course I didn't have to be anywhere and look nice. I didn't dare take off the helmet at school because it would have truly been scary. Since you can't see me (or smell me) right now, I don't have to worry about my personal presentation and all is good.
Now I read this back and realize how ridiculous I am. "Mother of four healthy children in middle class neighborhood rides bike 1.5 miles each way to kid's school on well paved and snow-cleared streets to deliver tennis shoes. It's sorta cold outside." Gee whiz. You'd think I deserve a medal or something . . . I am truly spoiled and lazy, but there's hope for even me.