Mirror

In numerology, the number 2, the internet tells me, “represents peace, partnership, and deep intuition. Known as the ultimate peacemaker, it embodies gentle, cooperative, and diplomatic energy rather than aggressive control.”  

That seems on-brand, as there was only a little bit of initial aggressiveness before the decision was peacefully and cooperatively arrived at to do version 2.0 of the very same Thursday night route as was followed just two weeks ago.

But since I did not attend those shenanigans, it was all brand-new to me and not at all subject to traditional worries about repeating oneself; one person’s version 2.0 is another someone’s fresh and original. 

And speaking of original, that was a first, in over two decades of cross-towning, that such an unfamiliar high road was taken to the familiar middle point, reminding us that, in Seattle, the straightest line is not always the shortest distance—at least in time and calories burned—to one’s destination.

But it’s good to shake things up a bit and even better to have something to complain about on such a perfect late summer evening in the Pacific Northwest.  

One certainly could cast no aspersions on the weather, which afforded anyone so inclined to ride in shirtsleeves and—with a gentle summer breeze blowin’ through the jasmine (or is it “jazz note?”) in my mind clearing out the wildfire smoke—also an impressive view of Tahoma at its regal best.

Nor would it be possible to offer a less-than-five-star review to Lake Washington, which represented another number two by being the second body of water you could—and did!—immerse yourself in before the evening was out.  Maybe, “technically,” the water wasn’t warmer than the evening air, but it was close enough that being in was only different than being out because it was liquid rather than gaseous.

So, what if, overall, it was the mirror image of a fortnight ago?  It still reflected beautifully on all who were there.