LIKE I SAID, EVERYONE WAS OUT

Today was an extra nice day and I acknowledged that fact by going on two separate but equally enjoyable bike rides - one in the late morning and one in the early evening. It was one of those mid September days that, even though the sun is still warm enough to make you sweat, you can feel autumn's faint bite in the air, and you can't help but wish that you could bottle up the warm breeze and green grass, seal it with a smile and save it for a murderous mid February morning. Crisp, clean and cool enough to refresh but plenty warm still. A perfect day for two bike rides. And a Jesus parade and free Jesus concert. And an impressive Quebecois army vessel docked at Dieppe Gardens offering free tours to the public. And for banana boats, yachts and jet skis to equally impress on the Detroit River. And for people out enjoying perhaps one of the last spectacular summer-like days of the year. Everyone was down by the river today. I mean everyone. The University dudes with the big wobbly stupid looking skateboards. The University chicks running, rollerblading, biking, walking or sitting and reading on obscure benches or patches of grass. The older gentlemen in better shape than I. The older gentlemen in the same or worst shape than I. And the older gentlemen sitting on a bench looking at the seagulls. I also ran into a few dirtball couples pushing baby carriages. And the fit eastern European Mom with her fit daughter discussing school, work or the homeland. Pacing and animated at the waters edge, I saw a group of fast talking, nervous looking middle easterners, who were involved in a lengthy discussion and with great emotion, probably about a cousin or the business or something crazy. Or, perhaps just the price of a barrel of crude oil ($69.12, as of today). I saw that guy with the elongated 'Dieppe Gardens Tour' golf cart again, except this time he was actually giving a tour and not just leaning up against his broken down cart, looking desperate, pathetic and confused about more than just the economy. Good for you guy! Not to mention the African guy with the gangster hat who enjoys no handed zig zaggin' - criss crossin'- bobbin' and weavin' on his old ass red ten speed. (We came to a cross roads once, when he bobbed and I tried to anticipate the weave but then he zigged before I could zag and we almost crashed head on, but then he laughed and said 'Sorry' and I said, 'I didn't know which way you were going man,' - and that was it). Yup, I saw that guy. Uh, I saw some super fat people just getting outside, some normal fat people trying to get in shape and some normal healthy people exercising who might have at one time been super or normal fat. I saw middle aged women in business type bank teller clothes gossiping and walking during break or lunch in white tennis shoes. I saw many Asian, Hispanic, Black, some white Windsorites, but mostly immigrant fisherman along the riverfront. I had to avoid the bicycle gang of early twenties nerd misfits who were chatting noisily, and childishly obnoxious about the female jogger they had just past and who had surely avoided them with tremendous ease. I saw a few old school degenerate Windsorites wasting the day away by the river. There was the couple from Detroit strolling slowly along, no doubt enjoying the view of the their sky line from the safety of our side of the river. A few cops on bikes, cops in training and sailors from the military vessel. I saw many dogs, plenty of kids and a younger yuppy couple walking their Himalayan cats on leashes. Interesting. And then there was me. Like I said, everyone was out.