cycling | matching tracksuits

Epiphany 2022

Sunday 02 January 2022

Today's reading in Mass had to do with the coming of the wise men -- the magi:

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” (Matthew 2.1, 2)

It doesn't take much to see that they are using the star rising -- which is a clear reference to astrology -- and by this, learn of Jesus's birth. Astrology is condemned in the Old Testament: "Do not practice divination or seek omens" (Leviticus 19.26) makes this clear, as does "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 19.31) and "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer" (Deuteronomy 18.10). But here it seems to be fine. In fact, God is using astrology to guide the wise men to the infant Jesus.

Bishop Robert Barron spoke of this in his homily today. The magi are astronomers, he suggests, and because of their "scientific investigation[, they] are now journeying to find this newborn king of the Jews." Only in one's wildest fantasies could one call these three astronomers. They were clearly astrologers. Astronomers do not see stars as being guiding forces in any way; that's exactly what astrologers do.

The priest in Mass today brought up science as well, though in a different way. He talked about how atheists deny God's existence by saying there's no scientific proof for him. "But science changes all the time!" the priest protested, adding with a pause, "Just ask the CDC." Laugher in the congregation prompted him to admit, "I thought you'd like that one." It was an underhanded way of belittling science's advances: "It really doesn't say anything completely trustworthy because it's always changing. It's useful, but not for grounding ultimate concerns," was the insinuation. It's a way of having the benefits of the scientific advances of the last 200 years ("We're not Luddites, after all!") without having to deal with the direct challenges science makes to religion.

On the non-religious side of things, my new bike arrived today:

A new mountain bike for me actually means a very happy Boy. "Think of all the places we can ride now!"

November Ride

Sunday 07 November 2021

Bike Ride

Monday 26 July 2021

Sunday Ride and Party

Sunday 30 May 2021

The day began with a ride. It was unplanned in every way imaginable: we hadn’t planned on going for a ride today, and when we decided to go, we really didn’t make a plan where we would go. We simply got on our bikes and started riding. The only criterion: “I want to go somewhere we’ve never been,” the Boy said.

We started out going to a little neighborhood about two miles from our house that includes a really significant climb. When we finished, we were close to the back route that I take to work, which leads right by Nana’s and Papa’s old place.

“Want to ride to Nana’s and Papa’s old place?” I suggested.

“Sure.”

And so we headed over to the old townhouse. We explored here and there coming back, and in the end, discovered we’d been gone for two hours and had ridden over 27 kilometers.

In the afternoon, we went to Polish Mass. After this particular Mass, though, the Polish community gathered for the first time for a little socializing.

The mothers got roses for Polish Mother’s Day, which was this week.

And naturally, there were speeches and singing.

I’ve said it often before: you can’t get a bunch of Poles together and not expect a speech.

Riding in the Back

Monday 24 May 2021

The Poster and the Fall

Tuesday 27 April 2021

The Poster

I was out Friday so I could run all the errands and such K would normally run so she could try to rest some and get well. The kids at school took to heart the cliche about cats being away, but they did so in such a way as exceptionally clever kids with good senses of humor would do:

While at the book fair, they bought me a poster of a Korean boyband and hung it in my room. When I came back Friday, I asked them who was responsible. They admitted it with giggles immediately. “I’ll keep it up under one condition,” I said. “You all have to sign it.”

I love the fact that

they thought of doing this as a funny prank;
they were willing to spend the few dollars to pull it off;
they knew me well enough and trusted me enough to know how I’d take it;
they liked me enough to be so silly.

It’s a silly, silly gesture, but a touching one nonetheless.

The Fall

In the evening, when K, E, and I were walking to CVS to pick up a prescription (and L was at sand volleyball practice), it appeared that the Boy had had a bike wreck. He was some distance away, so it wasn’t really clear what was going on. But the bike was clearly down, and there was little to no movement.

I began jogging down the hill toward him. I wasn’t terribly worried because there were no sounds of wailing or pain. But there was no movement.

“I was just waiting for you guys,” he explained with complete nonchalance.

Bike Ride

Friday 23 April 2021

Image from 2004.

Return to Dupont

Friday 09 April 2021

"You guys from out of town?" the cyclist asked coming to a slow stop as he navigated the steep downhill that we were climbing.

"Not really -- we're from Greenville." I figured being only 50 miles away doesn't exactly make us tourists.

"Well, most people around here go the opposite way on this loop and go down this hill," he said, I suppose trying to be helpful, but it came across to me as a little -- I don't know, annoying somehow.

"But what about those of us who enjoy hard climbs?" I wanted to say, but thinking I might be only speaking for myself, I said nothing.

"Yes, it seems like it would be more fun," K agreed.

Our interlocutor headed off down the hill, and added, as if he'd read my annoyance and wanted to soothe it and simultaneously aggravate it, "Of course, it's your choice."

Just before December, we went to Dupont forest for some cycling. It wasn't exactly what we'd planned. But since then, the Boy has asked us several times when we're heading back. Today, we finally made it.

And afterward, there was mulch to spread and bikes to wash.

The Day After

Friday 27 November 2020

“Friday, it’s going to be beautiful — warm, sunny, inviting,” K proclaimed earlier this week. “We are going on either a hike or a bike ride.” We headed to Dupont State Forest, which has 40 miles of cycling trails. Off-road trails. I currently have 25mm tires on my bike for commuting (ask me how many times I’ve ridden this year…), which can make any offroading a bit of a challenge, to say the least. What I’ve found is that it’s not a problem going uphill: I can power through most things, and the tires are not that slick (even though they would appear to be so), so keeping up is not a problem. Going downhill is a different story, though. Our nearly-fourteen-year-old leaves K and me behind; our eight-year-old does the same.