Alive!

Remember what I said about waiting a few seconds before taking off at a green light? Yeah. Well. Just this wednesday, I was in front of my building waiting at the red light by myself. It was earlier than usual so the street was quiet still: no charging buses, no one even waiting behind me. The light turns green for me and I don't notice it immediately because I was looking around a little bit as I usually do. I'm focused and very alert when I ride. A good two seconds pass by the time I let go of the breaks and give gas when I suddenly spot a zooming car coming straight for the intersection. I break and the car BURNS the red light exactly where I WOULD have been had I started going earlier. I honked at the car and looked around to see if there were any police officers (I live nearby a police station) unfortunately there were no cops in sight. 


It was only 7:30 AM and that would have been it for my day. Thank goodness, thank my guardian angels, thank the universe and thank me for my precautionary behaviour on the road...though I DO believe I was very lucky. All this to say: drive safely on the road, don't take chances and follow your  instinct.


Another more funny situation that took place last week: it was a beautiful morning, warm and sunny. A real summer morning! I had completed my morning workout routine which consists of a 5KM run followed by a fresh fruit smoothie (banana, strawberries, spinach, yogurt, water and whatever nuts I got - throw that in your mixer mmmm!). I had selected a white jumper dress outfit for work with a matching white vest which I consider one of my nicest and clean cut looks for the summer. I then proceeded to slip on my white leggings (ok, a lot of white here but WHATEVER, it's just for the ride). As I am riding out of the driveway and onto the street, I stop and always wait my turn until a bus driver usually let's me pass. This time the street was jammed and two car were blocking my way and as I waited, both lady drivers were staring at me. Not in a nice way. The kind of look that makes you wonder if you have a chocolate mustache on your upper lip or if you are wearing a giant trash bag instead of a nice white jumper. 


At first I didn't think anything of it, I stayed strong and stared right back at the first lady driver. As the cars moved up, the second lady driver (a little older) really went out of her way to make me feel bad - she shook her head "no" from her seat with quite the disapproving look. Now I REALLY felt out of place. I began to wonder if my leggings had a hole somewhere or if I was truly doing something out of place...like driving my Vespa in a dress and heels? something I've done a million times before? riiiiight. The light turned green and the old sour lady finally got out of my way and the bus driver following was, as usual, very kind and let me pass. I, on the other hand, was so taken aback by the old lady's nonverbal behaviour that I soon turned around and went back home to change my leggings because I was CERTAIN something was wrong with them. Nope! Both ladies were simply disapproving of a woman going to work on a Vespa or felt like passing on their bad mood to a stranger. Simple as that. I guess I didn't expect such reactions so early in the morning. I hopped back on Navi and got to work and this time, I was armed with confidence. 


P.S. On my way back home, two other ladies pointed at me and nodded...with an ever approving smile! Ah Montreal, so moody you are! 

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Me, looking like a Bee. A Tinybumblebee! ;)