let's take our time. i wake feeling unrested and not willing to commit to my plans. this is a common direction that my mind tends to wander. but maybe all it takes is some time to let my doubts float away and then become ready for action.

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i had ridden the streets of the city on bicycle before but this time it felt more beautiful. the blocks were buzzing with people and sunshine. it was a saturday, and everyone was out to enjoy themselves in some small or large way. we passed the park that i remember sitting at one day for hours, just watching kids jump in and out of the water fountain while parents sat by, watching closely. when i first saw the park as i passed i felt some silly connection to it and wanted to yell it out to hannah, but figured i didn't need to. i gave the park one last look as we left the intersection.

we overshot our destination by a few blocks, which took us up into the northwestern quadrant of the city's downtown. these neighborhoods are filled with greenery, jade in particular, and the sidewalks are not quite as full with pedestrians. we slowed our pace a bit and wondered at all the beautiful homes, many that resembled the painted ladies of san francisco.

we pointed back east, biking over a bridge with the busy, heated interstate running under it. this city does a good job at hiding all of the busier bits. when we parked outside of the bookstore we had been searching for i hopped off my bike and looked around. trendy couples walking hand in hand or arm in arm with shaded glasses and laughing, looking so glamorous. one man with a small dog in the bucket on the front of his bicycle. an automatic door opens, displaying the aroma of fresh baked bread and the busyness of its insides-a market. others along the sidewalk that are locking up their own bicycles. i feel a part of all of it, entirely inside of it and acting as if i were here all along and had never left.