Because Pearl (my bike) showed me how to go for it

I named my bike, a Jamis commuter 1, Pearl. She's GORGEOUS, a svelte, pearl-white machine sturdy enough to bike on on windy days, and fast enough to beat the bus home. Before Pearl, I rarely ever left the house and went out "just because." I made excuses for why I couldn't be somewhere, at a job, a party, a movie showing. Then, my friend Stephanie, who probably saw through my "I can't because I don't have a car" BS encouraged me to get a bike.

As soon as I saw Pearl, my jaw dropped. I hopped on and pedaled until my lungs hurt and came back with an ear-to-ear grin and leaves in my teeth. My mother worried, as usual, and basically ordered me not to ride in the road or at night just like she had ordered me not to cross the street to a friend's house at (yes, this is true) 14 years old. When I bought Pearl, I had just turned 20. Tired of being a shut-in, a scaredy-cat, I didn't listen.

I biked to work, school, the store, the movies, around the neighborhood, just exploring. Early in the morning, late at night, in the sun or driving rain, but always on the road. Because of Pearl, I became more social. I biked with friends, with strangers at bike groups and rallies, with my brother, who picked up his bike, Zero, a little after I got Pearl. Looking back, I see that I was afraid to take risks at all, and didn't step even a toe outside of my comfort zone until Pearl.

Now, a few years after meeting Pearl, I have a new job, just financed my own short film, have met a bunch of new friends, and am applying to universities so I can finish my BA in a new town.

But I'm taking Pearl with me!

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