Today is warmer than it has been and will even get as high as 59°. That sounds like a day for a ride.

When I was a kid, this would have been a perfect Saturday to ride my trusty steed, my bike. I seldom had a destination in mind. I had special places like the zoo, the train station, the lake and all around up town. I’d bring my lunch, always a sandwich and cookies if there were any left. Sometimes my mother would give me a nickel, a wealth of money. I’d usually buy penny candy or two for a penny candy if I was lucky. I liked the hard candies, the ones which took time to eat. I remember Mary Jane’s, Squirrel Nut Caramels, Bit O’Honey, Mint Juleps and Banana sort of Juleps in the yellow wrapper. Fire Balls were my favorite. I remember at some point I had to take the ball out of my mouth to give my mouth a break from the heat. I liked it when they got small enough to bite. Even now I sometimes buy a package. They last a long time, far longer than when I was a kid.

I have traveled to amazing places. Ghana will always be my favorite. I actually lived in Africa. I never would have expected that when I was eleven and vowing to travel. Another memory is when I stood on the equator with one foot in each hemisphere. The best ride was on the train from Quito to Guayaquil. The train was about the size of a bus. People were standing in the aisle. Nothing stopped the train, not even people or animals on the track. They got a whistle warning. The people moved. Some animals didn’t. I saw bananas growing and mountain tops covered in snow. We traveled on a switchback, up a steep hill and back down again. I think I held my breath.

I have seen the pages of my geography book in real life. I can’t think of anything more spectacular.

We are still in that weird weather pattern of lovely spring days and wintry cold nights. Last night there was a frost warning. The dogs snuggled with me in bed. Nala’s head was on my arm and Henry was next to my legs. I had the least amount of room.

Speaking of Nala, I have a story. On Tuesday night, around one, Henry came inside but not Nala. I heard her barking, and Nala is not a barker. I went out to the deck to check on her. She was frantically trying to get under the chair covers. I knew she had a creature cornered. I tried to block her but lost. Nala ran off the deck with the creature in her mouth. I could see bulk and grey and knew she had a possum. I wanted to save it but Nala didn’t cooperate. She ran. I went inside and shut the outside door as I didn’t want Henry out there. I knew if he got close to Nala and her prey she’d attack him. I sat in the den while Henry cried and ran up and down the hall. I kept checking out the door window for Nala. She appeared on the stairs but the possum was with her. She did that 4 or 5 times. I told her that if she didn’t come inside I was going to leave her out. She, of course, didn’t listen. Finally at about 2:30 Nala came in alone, and I let Henry out. He came inside and we all went to bed. The next morning they went out, and Nala didn’t find her possum.

When I was a kid, our boxer Duke was protective. He’d stand his ground if any one approached. Sometimes he’d bare his teeth. He was scary looking, but that was a pose, and we knew it but strangers didn’t.

I remember a trip to Benson’s Wild Animal Farm in New Hampshire. I have memories, some mine, some my mothers. I remember the elephant ride. The elephant sort of swayed from side to side. I remember thinking how high we were. We watched the monkeys for a long while. They were in a huge round cage. My brother got close. A monkey grabbed his arm and tried to pull him into the cage. I was all for it, but my father saved him. The next memory my mother told me. They were watching the big apes and one was spraying the crowd who were laughing at getting wet. My parents saw him pee then slop it into his mouth. That was what he sprayed. That was one smart animal spraying at not so smart animals.