None

I was walking briskly through the city this morning, delivering a package and searching for a muffin, which is not a metaphor for anything. So, there I was, waiting for a light to turn green on a busy city street and up ahead of me, on the opposite block I see a fast walking woman in a black dress. I thank to myself, hello fast walking woman, I will soon pass you.

There you have insight into my competitive nature. Inside my head I am competing all the time, whether with myself and some goal I set or, like the woman in the black dress, an innocent person doing the same thing I am doing, but I must will myself to catch and pass.

In fact, a few years ago when I had the time to ride a cycle seriously, I would spot a fellow cyclist somewhere ahead of me and make it my goal to catch and release. That is what I called it, first catch them, pass them and forget them. There was nothing they were aware of, all I was to them was a sweaty guy riding past. It is traditional to say "left" as you pass a cyclist, let them know you are there or something, but not for me. I liked to overtake them stealthily, just pump my legs hard in a low hear and pass them without so much as a word.

Once or twice I was scolded for shocking them, but once or twice I was also trailed by the person I passed, they falling in behind me, letting me lead the way and they could get a good workout that way. Not to worry, people passed me too, although as I got stronger and healthier that happened less and less, but when I was passed I too would pick up my pace and ride with them.

There is always a superior athlete, that is just the way the world works. At some point, back in those days of daily long hard rides, there was a kid who was training for some sort of professional career as a cyclist. Some mornings I would see him far ahead of me and set catching and passing him as my goal. I may have been able to catch him once or twice, but that was either because he was just doing a relaxed ride, or he was on the phone or something. He was an animal on a cycle, no pain and all endurance. It was a good goal to try and catch him and sometimes he would let me ride with him, I think, just to let me know who was king of the cycle.

This morning, waiting for that light to turn green, I kept my eye on the woman in the black dress. She was moving quickly, but I knew, given a green light and a parting of the people crowding the street, I could catch her within a block.

The light flickered green and I stepped off the curb with power. My strides quickly accelerating and I was on a fast pace. People in this city seem to dawdle and walk slowly, not sure why. I weaved and moved between slow moving pedestrians and spotted the woman in the black dress, now a city block ahead and pulling away. Because I had to walk the length of the city, I figured either I would catch her within a couple of blocks or she might even get to her destination before I had a chance.

Then she got held up by a red light. I saw it change and I noticed her slowing. I would not catch her with my speed, but with the stupid traffic signals. Either way, I saw my opportunity, pushed myself into a faster walking gear and sped up to catch and release mode. If I planned this right, just as the light was changing I would be by her side, in step and moving away. It was going to be a perfect moment.

But the light held. I slowed and it was still red and there was now gridlock blocking the crosswalk. I sauntered up to the fast walking woman in the black dress. I stood next to her for a second, turning my head, taking her in. She was older, much older, pasty white skin and wrinkles upon wrinkles. She looked forward for a bit, then she turned her head to catch my gaze. She had crystal clear blue eyes that seemed to smile. I acknowledged the sly look in her eyes and said "good morning sister." She smiled a bit, nodded and said good morning to me, the light turned and she was off.

She was going to beat me through the traffic and onto the sidewalk, disappearing into a crowd of people. I was slowed by a car in the crosswalk. She had sized me up and took off like a firecracker. A nun with endurance. I admired her as I saw her weaving fast through the crowds. Someday I hope to be old, wrinkled, pasty white and kicking ass as I compete on my own level, in my own head with people who may not may not even know it.