Thinking Ride

I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, so on Sunday I decided to take the mountain bike out for some gravel road exploring in the Holly Springs National Forest. It’s easy to think when you’re in the middle of nowhere specific and the mind is free to drift with the currents of contemplation. As I rode along with only the sound of crunching gravel under my tires and the occasional slap of the chain moving between cogs, I began sorting through all the emotions and options racing through my mind.

1. I’m not thrilled with the prospect of teaching in the public school system given all the emphasis on standardized tests and the general state of schools today. While I love the idea of teaching and opening up young minds to learning, I do not want to get into the political power struggle that now envelops public education. It’s become too easy to blame the teacher for everything, and I’d rather not have my career hanging on some standardized test score. I could offer my own solutions to the problem, but that’s another post altogether.

2. I can’t help but feel that I don’t fit into the general political/social climate of the Deep South. I’m way too socially liberal compared to the populace and the things I enjoy doing most (biking, hiking, learning about different cultures, nature, and watching documentary films) seem to be uncommon pastimes here.

3. I could always go back to school and complete my Ph.D. to teach at the university level. The only negative I see here is the “publish or perish” mentality at so many colleges. I’d rather teach and let others toy with theory. Taking the adjunct route would likely involve a serious pay cut.

4. I need a best friend. It’s not easy being single in a small college town and an introvert on top of that. I need to make an effort to put myself out here more often. Take a chance needs to be my new mantra. This is going to take some effort on my part.

5. I could always go back to advertising, but I left that cut-throat world long ago and really have no interest in ever seeing it again.

6. I can stay the course, ride out the storm, and hope for better sailing ahead.

When you are in deep thought, it’s easy to get lost inside yourself and actually get yourself lost for real. Somewhere between sorting out the things in my head and trying to navigate poorly marked Forest Service roads, I missed a turn and kept pedaling north. I knew I was headed in the wrong direction when I saw the highway 30 radio tower in the distance and the sun was to my left rather than my right.

That’s when it happened.

I looked down from the tower to see a small group of zebras in a pasture running away as if being pursed by a pride of lions. “There are no zebra in Mississippi”, I thought to myself. I stopped along the side of the road and immediately reached for my camera. I just stood there on the side of the road looking at these magnificent animals and completely forgot about everything. The world just stopped and so did my worries, if only for a moment.