My bike and I...

Back in 1972 I had the best bike ever. It was a beautiful brown Schwinn 10 speed. It was a boys bike (the thing to have). I loved it and rode it almost every day. One day my best friend and I decided to ride our bikes to the mall. It was a Sunday and in those days the stores were not open on Sundays. The parking lot was completely empty except for the big concrete light poles that were scattered about. I was talking and I guess not paying attention when all of a sudden I ran smack dab into one of those huge concrete light poles. When I hit the pole I hit it so hard that I bounced off. Thankfully, I did not get hurt. My friend and I have laughed about this incident over the years. I mean it was an empty mall parking lot for goodness sakes. Who runs into a giant mass of concrete in an empty parking lot?

Thirty nine years later…

I decide to purchase a new bike. I find one and it’s a beauty. It reminds me of my 10 speed only it's a girls bike with more gears than I know what to do with and skinny tires. When I purchased it I had sense enough to buy a helmet. This bike looked a little more than I could handle and I knew I would get used to it in no time.

Last night my husband and I went for a bike ride. I was riding on the sidewalk. All of a sudden I swerved a little to the left and saw that my tire was about to hit a groove between the sidewalk and grass. What I did not see was what was in front of me. I tried to swerve but...you are not going to believe this...Thirty-nine years later...a concrete pole...I hit it hard! My body flew over the bike...I was in the air in slow motion...I landed on my back hitting my head and skimming up my left wrist and leg. I was stunned. I couldn't move. I was in shock. I was waiting to see stars. I couldn't believe I hit a stupid concrete pole. I was embarrassed as a man approached to see if I was o.k. I lay there not able to move as I was still stunned and feeling pain in the back of my head. My husband was asking me all kinds of questions. He helped me up and I cried like a 5 year old. I am o.k., a little embarrassed, but today, when I think about it, it makes me laugh…I just can’t believe it…I hit a concrete pole twice…really…who does that?

On this Wonderful Wednesday my arm is scraped, I have a big bruise, my bike survived and I have another funny memory that will make me laugh every time I think about it. Funny memories do make a difference.