Colleen Cooks: New and Improved (or so I hope)

Wow! Sadly, it has been over 18 months since I wrote. As we know, life is full of changes, surprises, responsibilities, priorities, challenges and lessons. So I took a hiatus from my blogging, and perhaps for good reasons…

While I am a passionate cook and lover of good food, wine and beer, I am also a lover of many other things. I have been a runner for some years now, running 3 of 4 marathons for some of my favorite charities.  Training for marathons was what prompted my 1^st love affair with Miami, surprisingly even as a 2^nd generation Native. When people question me with curiosity and confusion about my desire to continue to train and run marathons in the heat and humidity that is Miami, I react with the same curiosity and confusion for their inquiry. Training runs have exposed me to a Miami in a way I never experienced the city I was born and raised in. The sense of community I experience by slowing down and traveling this beautiful and eclectic city by foot is 2^nd to almost nothing. Until 10 days ago. Meet Milly, my lovely bicycle.

Recently I was blessed with a “hybrid” bicycle. Not only is she just simply gorgeous, but she is the perfect companion to travel my fabulous hometown and see a new side of Miami. Don’t get me wrong… It is not always warm and fuzzy or safe. But it is quite amazing the experiences of running errands, attending meetings and just plain riding for fun  and what it can do for wellbeing, balance and life satisfaction.

What I have learned as a VERY amateur cyclist (can I call myself that?):

1.     Riding in actual bike lanes (not the fake ones with a painted bicycle on a road cars travel supposedly equally?) is so lovely and fun!

2.     The key to safely riding in Miami is making eye contact with drivers, smiling and saying thank you when they actually give you the right of way and respect.

3.     That many/most Miami drivers (including myself) are not accustomed to looking out for cyclists.

4.     Riding to meetings even with foundations is a positive thing even if you show up covered in sweat.

5.     Flat tires happen even after owning a bike for 4 days.

6.     There are security measures that you can take to protect your bike your tires and seat from theft.

7.     There is SO much more I have to learn about cycling around Miami.

8.     And, I wish there was something we could do to increase the number of bike lanes and increase awareness and respect for cyclists so more people would/could embrace riding in our gorgeous city without feeling their life was at risk…

And so, it is a short and sweet kind of blog, but I am getting back. Today I was on a 5 mile run, thinking about the renovations to my blog that would facilitate my writing more. Including running and riding were what was missing. Cause in all honestly, who is just one thing? And we are always evolving. Adapting to who we grow into is what keeps us living and thriving.

And so I end with a side story that for me what the confirmation/validation that I needed to get back to writing, but not simply just about cooking. Saturday night I saw one of my absolute favorite musicians, Ray LaMontagne at the Filmore . I bought my tickets the day they were released in March and yet I still ended up with balcony seating (which you need binoculars, or super hero vision). I reflected on the concert with family the following day, saying how amazing the concert was but how next time I see Ray, I want to be up closer. Little did I know…

So I am concluding a 5 mile run today heading home at the intersection of 10^th and Collins.  Listening to Ray, of course on Pandora’s Lumineers channel. Waiting for the light to change to safely cross the street I notice a man who stuck out like a sore thumb on Miami Beach in mid July at 11:00am.  A slender tall man, dressed in pants, shirt, jacket, hat and closed toe shoes with a beard and mustache. Handsome of course. And as we cross paths, in my heated delirious state I think “Wow! That looks like Ray LaMontagne”. And then I realize it is Ray!  Speechless. Star Struck for the first time. And I do nothing but stare. But I have the memory and the story. Which I will share next time someone questions me about why I run in Miami outside, fall, winter, spring or summer. Because you never know the beauty, inspiration, kindness, love and dreams that you can experience when you step out side, one foot at a time.