Horrible Yoga Gift Ideas, Sexy Jews, Good Buddhist at Christmas, Mark Twain’s Bad Advice to Good Children…

How my Yoga Mat saved my life when I got hit by a Truck while riding my Bike.

Three Takeaways from getting hit by a Truck on my Bike.

Here’s the set up: I’m riding along in the bike lane on a three-lane stretch of University Ave, thinking about whatever I’m thinking about.

I’m wearing a bright neon orange hunter’s hat, which I like to wear because I’m a big guy on a big bike and it helps car drivers see me. I’m wearing a red wool Pendleton coat, I think, and gloves and there’s little neon flags hanging off my bike. In the back I have a black milk basket that holds my laptop (my life, my business, which I can’t afford to replace [again—two weeks ago a gent spilled coffee on it and booked it, leaving me without a functioning laptop for better part of a week, and $1,000 the poorer]) and my big oversize un-cut 100-inch or something Manduka yoga mat. I’m on the way to the Yoga Pod, where I, Natalie (elephant’s part-time staffer) and our six interns will do yoga, sponsored by elephant.

A truck wheels out of an alley to my left…read the exciting conclusion at elephantjournal.com! Will I die? Will I learn profound pseudo-spiritual lessons worthy of a Hallmark Card?

Yours in the Four Reminders,