...I took my first ride on a motorcycle today. Zipping along the streets of Tubingen on the back of Helga's bike, I caught our reflection in a shop window, and I had one of those "this is my life?" moments... I've had a lot of those moments this year; lots of unexpected things have happened. Things I could never have pictured even a year ago. On the bike, I was mostly terrified, and hanging on for dear life. Given how recently I have recovered from my driving phobia, perhaps this fear is unsurprising.

I'm hoping to be able to get out and about this weekend; start orienting myself to the larger region, and to the train system, as I would presume that most of my traveling will be done via train. I know that I am going to have to force myself to get out and do things; it would be very easy for me to live a circumscribed life, but, really, at what other point in my life will I have the opportunity that I have now? I can't (or shouldn't) take it for granted. But I can be so timid, and it's easier to stick to what is comfortable. I still have a lot of work to do in order to really come out of my shell...