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Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

It saved my life, two times. First time inspiring me, second time literally.



My parents had the soundtrack LP from the film when I was growing up back in the 70s, I loved that (and I still have a CD). The book remains one of the very few I've read more than once.


Illusions by Richard Bach is also mind-blowing, or at least was for me during puberty..


What happened the second time?


I was riding my bike with some friends and one of them launched a challenge. This was 30 years ago and I was 17. We were climbing up a hill. Who was going to reach the old church at the top of the hill first?

Fast forward to me being ahead, miscalculating a turn before the church, and heading full-speed straight for the edge of a cliff. I couldn't brake because I'd lose control. I couldn't jump off the bike because I'd start rolling. I remembered Jonathan and how he learned acrobatic flight. I didn't have wings to barely bend but I slightly, slightly, lightly than a feather, turned the stem, and got out of trouble right at the last inch in the fastest turn ever performed on a bicycle.




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