When we were kids, my siblings and I used to invent our own knock-knock jokes. Many have long since been forgotten, but one endures as part of family lore. My brother would tell this joke and then roar with laughter as we sat there trying to figure out what was so funny.  Well… today, some thirty five years later, I am thrilled because I get the joke, and its hiiilaaarious.

Knock, knock

Who’s there?

Bare Bum.

Bare Bum Who?

Bare Bum on a Bike.

This joke came to life today when I was walking down Government Street. People were hooting, hollering, smiling and laughing behind me. I turned to look and was completely agape at a parade of bare naked people riding bikes. Apparently, this Naked Bike Ride takes place in several cities across the globe to protest vehicle emissions. What an attention grabber.

Part of me was captivated. Another part was thinking OMG this is way too much information, but I realized these are real people, no airbrushing, no photoshop, just the real goods. It hit me that these folks are praticing what I preach about being comfortable in my own skin and letting go of what I think I am supposed to look like.

I don’t look so different from the nakedness I saw today on the street, yet I still haven’t the courage to let it all hang out. I’m still trying not to measure myself against the unreal images I see in the media. I want the courage and comfort they have, and I want to thank them for reminding me normal is actually what I saw riding down the road, not the perfection plastered all over billboards and magazines. Plus I love that this is a proactive protest encouraging cycling as a mode of transport.

Does putting my money where my mouth is mean I should participate next year? Maybe it will take me longer than a year.  What about you? Care to join me?