Sooooooooooooo...
Today while shopping at Target with my daughter & grandson, somehow I wandered
into the BICYCLE department & something bright & shiny caught my eye.
It was a brand new, emerald green beach cruiser, with a front basket,
tan trim & a cup holder on it. I mean it had everything but the bell
& I thought, JEEZ...I can put a BELL ON IT!
That's it above, but the color is much darker & greener...like a midnight evergreen.
I YELLED out to the kids like it was Christmas morning, "Kai, get Mommy I found
something I REALLY WANT!" Now, usually it's Kai screaming out to me about
something he's found that he absolutely HAS to HAVE, so this was out of the
ordinary & he took it quite seriously. He screamed for his Mom & came running
towards me as I stared in awe at the glorious ride before my eyes.
As we huddled around the Huffy Women's Nassau 26" Cruiser,
visions of A Christmas Story danced through my head.
I announced not only to my family, but to the entire store, that I was in love with
this bike. That it had to be mine. That I wanted it for my birthday or Christmas,
or whatever. Take note children, cuz this is the one I WANT & we all ooohed
& aaahed over it's beauty! Now I haven't gotten a new bike for over 20 years,
so in my mind I was thinkin...I DESERVE this!
Fast Forward...
After the bustle of the day my hubby & I are sitting on our porch swing, when yes...
even on Father's Day I blurt out, "I found a beautiful new bike at Target & I WANT IT!!"
My husband was taken aback by my outburst & sweetly mentions,
"But you haven't ridden a bike in years honey." to which I say,
"I don't even know where my old beach cruiser is!"
To which he says gently, now knowing he's dealing with a crazy person...
"It's hanging in the garage with all the other bikes, let's go look at it."
Acting slightly like a seven year old, my arms crossed over my chest I say,
"I haven't had a new bike in over 20 YEARS!!"
He gives me a funny sideways glance & heads out to the garage where I hear the
sound of clanking & air compressors & other manly things. He emerges with my old
beach cruiser, a little rusty & worn, but still looking good & says..."Let's go for a ride!"
This is the road in front of my house, a pretty little country road, but also a kinda
BIG hill. I tell hubby I really don't like riding in the mountains, that I like to ride
on flat ground, which I know sounds pretty weird since I LIVE in the mountains.
{thus why I haven't ridden in several years, duhhh}
We climb on our bikes & I do a couple tiny test rides in front of my house.
Hubby says, "Let's walk the bikes up past the top of the hill & then ride on the
straight way just past it." To which I say, "No, I'll just ride fast down the hill in
front of our house & that will give me enough momentum to get up the big hill."
Off I go, petaling as fast as I can, wind blowin in my hair, feeling free as a bird
& then I reach the crest. My legs can no longer petal, it becomes clear in my
mind that I can't make it up the hill & in a blur of confusion & pain,
I COMPLETELY WIPEOUT!!!!
After the bustle of the day my hubby & I are sitting on our porch swing, when yes...
even on Father's Day I blurt out, "I found a beautiful new bike at Target & I WANT IT!!"
My husband was taken aback by my outburst & sweetly mentions,
"But you haven't ridden a bike in years honey." to which I say,
"I don't even know where my old beach cruiser is!"
To which he says gently, now knowing he's dealing with a crazy person...
"It's hanging in the garage with all the other bikes, let's go look at it."
Acting slightly like a seven year old, my arms crossed over my chest I say,
"I haven't had a new bike in over 20 YEARS!!"
He gives me a funny sideways glance & heads out to the garage where I hear the
sound of clanking & air compressors & other manly things. He emerges with my old
beach cruiser, a little rusty & worn, but still looking good & says..."Let's go for a ride!"
BIG hill. I tell hubby I really don't like riding in the mountains, that I like to ride
on flat ground, which I know sounds pretty weird since I LIVE in the mountains.
{thus why I haven't ridden in several years, duhhh}
We climb on our bikes & I do a couple tiny test rides in front of my house.
Hubby says, "Let's walk the bikes up past the top of the hill & then ride on the
straight way just past it." To which I say, "No, I'll just ride fast down the hill in
front of our house & that will give me enough momentum to get up the big hill."
Off I go, petaling as fast as I can, wind blowin in my hair, feeling free as a bird
& then I reach the crest. My legs can no longer petal, it becomes clear in my
mind that I can't make it up the hill & in a blur of confusion & pain,
I COMPLETELY WIPEOUT!!!!
Hubby comes riding up behind me worried & concerned, "Are you OK?"
I'm still slightly in a state of shock, but the worst part is that a neighbor
happened to be walking his dog right in front of my high speed accident.
He runs over & picks my bike up as I tell them both, "It's OK, I'm fine,"
now blood is slowly trickling down my leg. We slowly walk our bikes
back to the house & I can can see the barely there smile on Robert's face.
When we get home, I jump back on the bike & try & make a few victory
laps in front of the house, but now my leg is starting to hurt so I park the
bike on the porch & head inside for some much needed medical attention.
Once settled, I open up my laptop on a vision quest. Robert says, "What are you
looking for?" & I reply, "I want to show you a picture of the bike I want." He puts
his glasses on & we spend the rest of the night looking at different styles of COOL
beach cruisers for sale. I really like the one in the picture above too!!
Moral of this story?
I have such an AMAZING husband...
Falling down didn't make me NOT want a bike, it made me want a bike even more...
If I had a dollar for every time I've picked my self up, dusted myself off & tried again,
I'd be a millionaire.
And yes, I'm STILL getting the new bike I want, although...
Training Wheels Might Be Required. ;)
XOXO
vintagesusie
5 comments:
Well good luck with that! What a lovely story! :) Made me smile!
Hugs,
What a sweet story! I think there is a life lesson here for all of us. I do hope you get that dream bike. You deserve it!
I have also been drooling over the cruiser bikes. Me for over a year, lol, so I understand. In my case, here I am, a grandma, wanting a new bike. DH did get me bike 3 yrs ago, but it has 21 speeds and NO coaster brakes. I found one gear I like and thats where it stays, lol. Your story was a hootand I'm glad there was no broken bones.
Okay so like I wrote you a nice long note and blogger coughed it out like a rabid furrball! The nerve!
Well let me paraphrase it this time - you so deserve this bike! 20 years without a new bike?!? Points there. That you may fall off but get back on every time? Extra points there. That you've picked out several showing that you are flexible and willing to accept only one of all those choices. Well that's extra extra points! I say the bike should be YOURS!
Purrs,
Romeo (who was glad he wasn't on the road when you wiped out for fear of he himself being wiped out)
Susie, Susie,
You are too cute! i love that bike. The color is just perfect. Even if it is not perfect in the picture, I can just imagine it with you! You must have it!!!
Waiting longingly to see you on your new bike!
Hugs,
Suz
P.S. I am doing ok. Rough road but I am still standing. So appreciated your lovely note!
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