The nose knows (and the scooter takes me there)

Photo by AaronLeavy.

Mmmmm... the smell of fresh-cut grass tickles my nose as I pass by a park and, suddenly, I'm transported back to my days of playing soccer. Or rolling down grassy hills, getting gloriously dizzy. Or simply... thinking of old friends, playing together in the summers.

Then I pass Winchell's Donuts on N. Broadway, and the smell of fresh-baked donuts lingers in the air, teasing my taste buds, and my mouth starts watering. No, resist it, Scooter Lass, resist it! Save it for a rainy day.

That's another thing special to the scooter commuter -- we're in the trenches. You can't even pick up the smells we smell when your car window is open. There's something about being completely in the elements that fosters this amazing phenomenon.

It's very meditative, riding  a scooter. Yes, it's sometimes easy to get lost in thoughts of the day, but for the most part, you are in the moment, navigating traffic, enjoying your environment... smelling your smells. For me, there's just nothing like it.

Today, I wish you this same feeling of enjoying the NOW, if only for a few moments. And if you don't resist that donut... it's perfectly all right.