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thank you very much, Ontario driver BKDV 035

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2015.10.22

Today's run-in was with a Volkswagen, Ontario license plate BKDV 035. South-bound on Kippendavie in the Beaches, the driver pulled right out in front of me, causing me to brake. He then drifted right, and seemed headed for a new parking position on the other side of the (one way) street. I passed by, and started to head back to the right side of the street.

At which point, incredibly, he accelerated and then squeezed in between me and the parked cars on the right. I hastily made way as he pushed through, amazed at his disregard for his surrounds. The driver refused to make eye contact, but I could see that he wasn't distracted by a phone or tablet or what have you. There was no way he'd missed my hulking 6'5", 100km frame on a bright green bike and wearing a reflective neon vest. Just didn't want to see me, and really didn't want to be overtaken by a bike despite his erratic driving. The woman in the car also avoided looking at me.

I guess denial is a powerful enabler, but that's nothing new.

rand()m quote

If I had my life to live over, I'd try to make more mistakes next time. I would relax, I would limber up, I would be crazier than I've been on this trip. I know very few things I'd take seriously any more. I'd certainly be less hygenic... I would take more chances, I would take more trips, I would scale more mountains, I would swim more rivers, and I would watch more sunsets. I would eat more ice cream and fewer beans. I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it all over again, I'd have many more of them, in fact I'd try not to have anything else, just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of my day. If I had it to do all over again, I'd travel lighter, much lighter than I have. I would start barefoot earlier in the spring, and I'd stay that way later in the fall. And I would ride more merry-go-rounds, and catch more gold rings, and greet more people and pick more flowers and dance more often. If I had it to do all over again - but you see, I don't.

—Jorge Luis Borges