Pedal Pusher

On our fifth anniversary we bought ourselves the gift of rollerblades. I figured since I rollerskated as a child, getting the knack of rollerblading would be a snap! We went on a rollerblading outing to celebrate our anniversary...that's the day I learned that I'd neglected to learn how to stop! I got going a bit too fast for comfort, but couldn't even slow myself down. I kept gaining speed until I completely lost control and bailed. I fell right on my...derriere. For weeks afterward I sported a nasty bruise the size of my hand!

They say time heals all wounds, so five years later for our tenth anniversary, my bottom (and my pride) had sufficiently recovered. We decided to get ourselves bikes. This was a much better idea!

Scott's is silver and mine is green. I'm sure Scott didn't care what color his was, but I wasn't sure I wanted green...It became a non-issue, though, when we learned that the only 26" bike in the shop was green. Sold! I guess it completes a nice circle...every bike I've ever had has been green. Tricycle...emerald. My sister Linda's hand-me-down two-wheeler with training wheels that kept falling off...emerald. Replacement two-wheeler with banana seat and white wicker basket with plastic daisies...neon lime. First three-speed...emerald. And now my "forever" bike...metallic green.

We outfitted ourselves with helmets, too...gotta protect the gray matter! (Too bad they didn't make "butt pads" when I was rollerblading!...) Once the Mickey Mouse mini license plate that says "Gina" which my brother bought me when I was fourteen was attached behind the seat, my ride was pimped out and ready to roll!

I always knew I loved my bike, but it took nearly losing it to make me realize just how much it meant to me. A couple years ago, our detached garage was burglarized. The guy took off on my bike, with our weed-whacker tucked under his arm, at 12:30 in the morning! Some neighbors alerted us to the burglary and called the police immediately. I was sound asleep; Scott awoke me with the words, "Someone broke into our garage, and they took your bike." I skipped right over feeling scared or sad and directly to angry that the son-of-a-bitch stole my bike! Thankfully, the burglar was inept. It took the police only minutes to identify the man riding the 26" woman's bicycle in the middle of the night carrying a weed-whacker! Scott identified our belongings and within a couple days our items were returned. It was traumatic not to have my bike for those days. What was worse was that when it was returned, my Mickey Mouse mini license plate that said "Gina" was missing! That was a keepsake that had sentimental value... Good news...when we were cleaning up the broken glass in the garage, I found my license plate! I assumed it fell off while he was stealing the bike. Or, maybe he removed it to avoid arousing suspicion...obviously no one would believe his name was Gina!...

Whether Scott is with me or not, I adore riding my bike! I feel an exhilarating sense of freedom up there. I especially love riding on a day like today with a brisk autumn breeze blowing against my face. I guess I will have to wait until the weekend when I will have some free time during daylight hours. Hopefully the weather will cooperate!

I try not to get too attached to material things...but my bike really is one of my most cherished possessions! When I thought it was lost to me, I felt as if I'd lost a friend.

I am thankful for the many happy miles we've traveled together, and the anticipation of many more.