Jealous

Those people who actually know me outside of "Principal Curry" know that besides work and family, I have three other passions: baseball, bicycles, and Starbucks.  Today, two crossed paths.  After a meeting in Springfield, I stopped by Starbucks for an iced latte to go and spotted this loaded touring bike outside. The bike was definitely loaded for the long haul. I went in and ordered and then got nosey. I looked around and noticed an Asian fellow in cycling gear. I asked if he was the owner of the bike outside. He said yes. We started talking and he told me his story. He is from Tokyo. He is a graduate student at Sophia University. His major is in Environmental Studies. He flew with his bike to Santa Monica, CA. He is riding across our great country by himself. He has to be in New York by mid-October so he can be back in Tokyo for class.  I told him that I plan to do the same thing when I retire. We exchanged business cards and I headed back to school and I assume he soon set out on the road. He said he rides 80-100 miles a day. He has a twitter site @Akira_usps. He also has a Facebook /akira620. Most of his posts are in Japanese.  I just thought it was pretty cool to meet someone doing what you want to do (but from Tokyo) cycling across our country, by chance on a short stop at Starbucks.  I told him I was jealous and that I will be doing the same thing someday.