As I mentioned last week, I started motorcycle lessons at a driving school. I have ridden a bike for four hours so far, and let me tell you, as a person who has only ever been a passenger, it’s a whole new experience.

Not only am I learning an entirely new skill set, I am learning it in Japanese. It’s a bit overwhelming, and all of my years of driving a car have gone out the window. Like, I know how cars work. I know how to drive in traffic and I know the laws, but add in operating a motorcycle with all four of your appendages while trying to remember those rules is damn hard.

My first day riding was in the mid afternoon… during a heatwave. It was all I could do to focus on what the instructor was saying and doing. I think I literally got heat stroke. I could barely do anything between my lessons and afterwards. It was scary. I am still surprised they let me operate a motorcycle in that condition. I’m surprised I could operate a motorcycle in that condition.

Last night, my lessons went much better. It was cooler and the instructor went over the things I had issues with … like using the damn clutch and the accelerator… and braking.

I hope I can improve as I go along - there is no way for me to practice outside of the school because it’s not like the US where you can practice on someone’s bike on private property or in parking lots… I am limited to the school grounds.

I keep reminding myself that it’s pretty badass for me to be learning how to ride before I turn 50. That’s a fucking milestone, right?

Finally, my writing life is in the weird liminal space of not pushing for submissions, not pushing to write, not pushing to publish. I’m just so tired of having to constantly promote myself and promote my fundraiser and all of that… my social media has slowed down a lot lately because I just don’t want to engage - most likely because I am burnt out and overwhelmed by all of the stuff going on in my life. I’m not complaining. It is what it is… but I am learning to ride a god damn motorcycle, so that’s something to celebrate, right?

As always, sending light, love and creativity!