What Goes Down can Again Go Up!

Todays allegory is inspired through what may have been the painful experience of someone other than me. Two days ago I was riding home from work (for those that check in regularly to my blog, yes I got right back on the horse - which is to say bike, after my "in" of body experience) - allowing due time to "shake it off."

Ahead of my was a young fellow on a skateboard (one of those "long-boards" which I believe feature increased relative stability, for faster down hill rides). He was travelling in the inside lane (occupying the entire lane) of what is a fairly busy cross-town thoroughfare.  I thought of this - rather a bold (quasi- stupid) move. The city council had made amendments to by-laws governing skateboarding; which now allows for boarding within city boundaries, though it's technically still, disallowed on city sidewalks. This guy was demonstrating some confidence to travel down the middle of the road - however his courage/bravado, was soon to potentially impress upon him some humility.

We were both travelling on a fairly level portion of the road which was soon to offer an appreciable down hill grade; that allows me if I so choose, to coast home. He seemed intend on building a good head of steam before his descent, as he was taking "great strides" to accelerate. To give credit where credit is due, his technique was impressive. Picture John Cleese doing one of his "Ministry of Silly Walks" bits - so then, the leg providing the locomotion is flexed at the hip, thrust forward with great gusto and then brought down toward terra-firma, with an explosive push equally as powerful.

He (we) were approaching an often busy intersection when he gave his already enthusiastic propulsion strokes, some extra oomph.  He wanted to get through the light (which was turning amber as he approached). The extra effort rather than accelerate his forward motion, upset his balancing stance on the board and over he goes (ass over tea-kettle). He can thank what ever he holds holy that it continued to be uncharacteristically light traffic (though not by any means a deserted road). He rolled once on the pavement (much the way the hollywood cops do across the hood of their car) before returning to his feet; feet that now needed to aid the pursuit of his skateboard that was continuing his original route without him. Cars came to a stop in the intersection (despite them now having the "green light") the skate board carrying on its trajectory, careening off the curb a few times, with buddy in hot pursuit. The board which continues to slalom along the road (as if ridden by some invisible other-worldly presence) cuts right and comes up on the sidewalk via the recessed curb for a driveway entrance. By this time the intrepid boarder has caught up, jumps aboard and proceeds down the sidewalk, as though the whole thing was part of his intended commute.

He was brushing himself off en-route - examining is palms, which I suppose could possible have suffered some "road-rash;" however, unless he got to somewhere where he could "lick his wounds" unwitnessed by anyone that had been present for the incident, there was no pause (let alone quitting).

The spill that he undertook was just the sort of thing that led me to my original assessment: brave bordering on asinine. I fully realize that the honing of any sport skill set can involve both thrills and spills, however to add the element that if you do go down, you do so in "traffic," seemed to defy good sense to me. Then again, who am I to say?

Fortunately for him, if he did sustain any injury (which is likely - pavement is not particularly forgiving; though his rolling was likely far preferable to sliding); at least he or his board didn't get run over by a car!

So what was demonstrated here; if we can just forget about debating the decision to skateboard down the middle of a city's main traffic artery.  Certainly the metaphor I already referenced re: "getting back on the horse" seems to apply here. There was apparently not even a brief consideration otherwise - he chased the horse down (sure in part he wanted to get his board back). He didn't just retrieve the board and then limp off feeling ashamed and sorry for himself; at least in the moments to follow, he made the best of the unfolding circumstances.  This most certainly was not how he envisioned his cross-town journey "going-down" (pun intended) however, he definitely rolled with it!

He certainly wasn't held by any "in-the-box" constraints with regard to his objective. Neither was he dissuaded from his intention when he experienced a rather abrupt unexpected obstacle to that objective! Given he was somewhat less advanced on the chronological spectrum - and if we hold to be true that, as such his body, will be more resilient in the face of such circumstances; it's possible that's what let him continue unscathed. It's also possible that he accepts occasional spills to be part of the journey, adjusts for their onset and keeps right on going (even if he is a little battered at the end of the day).  Either way, he's got himself a hell of a story now!

I'm grateful to this young road warrior for the fodder for another blog post and in particular, the opportunity to explore the gifts and lessons from the potentially painful experience of someone other than myself.