Cindy II (not to be confused with my homegirl, the unflappable Cyndi Tew)
This post was featured by WordPress Freshly Pressed on August 31, 2011.
My friend Corey turned 40 this year and announced he would now be living as if he were half his age. I promptly decided to adopt this philosophy.
Of course there are many things I can’t do now that I could do when I was 20.
Well, I may still be able to do them. But just because I can, doesn’t mean I should.
Staying up past a reasonable bedtime? No longer a good idea. Drinking more than an occasional glass of wine? Not good either. Eating half a five-dollar pizza all by myself? No.
There are other things though. Things I haven’t done for many years that are good for me. Enter Cindy.
Cindy was my first bike, complete with a banana seat and streamers on the handle bars. A horse was not in the cards, but I could name a bike just as well.
I received Cindy way before I was 20. Probably around age five or six. I’ll never forget learning to ride that bike. How wonderful it felt to be free and go fast.
Somewhere in the murky years of high school, I gave up bike riding. And skating. And swimming. Fun things I once enjoyed. Why do we do that?
fun on ice…
Then a couple years ago, I decided to take my little boy skating at Steinberg Ice Rink in Forest Park. It was a perfect December day. He was too young to be on the ice for very long. I, however, had a ball.
We went skating again this past winter. He got the hang of balancing and moving at the same time. But all he really wanted to do was spin around in circles and fall and laugh.
We go swimming too. Although momma doesn’t always let her hair get wet, the water is like a long-lost friend.
…and in water
When my husband received a reward certificate with an option to redeem for a bike, I lobbied. I had my eye on a sleek, expensive model at Big Shark Bicycle Company in the Loop. But a free bike? We had nothing to lose.
My son was as excited as I was when the bike arrived in a big box last week. We unpacked it, all shiny and purple.
He helped my husband put it together. Insists I wear my helmet as we ride around the neighborhood.
When I’m with him, we go slowly. He’s still learning. When I’m alone, I fly.
Someday I hope he’ll fly beside me and know what I remember. How wonderful it feels to be free and go fast.
good night, sweetheart!
So, I’m all for just going ahead and having a good time—the best possible. The only earthly good men and women can look forward to is to eat and drink well and have a good time—compensation for the struggle for survival these few years God gives us on earth. Ecclesiastes 8:15 The Message
Be free, go fast, and meet me back here next week!
