Bicycle

Ray Bradbury, in his fine book Dandelion Wine, perfectly describes the effect of a new pair of sneakers on a 12-year-old boy. He can run like the wind. Superhuman speed, simply tying on a new pair of shoes. This past week Diane bought a bicycle for me and I feel the same thrill as a new pair of sneakers.

I played hooky in the middle of all my chores today. The sky was clear, the temperature flawless and the new bicycle bucking in its stall. I hadn't done more than a quick trip down the street the day I assembled it and the long day of chores was beginning to feel all too responsible. Without telling anyone I put on the helmet, rolled it quietly into the driveway and the rocketed out into the street.

Cranking the pedals like a 12 year old boy, it wasn't until about the end of the first mile when my middle-aged body began to wake up to what was going on. Everything began to get tired, my lungs began to get sore and legs rubbery. Fortunately I had many stretches of long coasting to keep the illusion alive for a little longer.

I rolled back into the driveway having only been gone a few minutes. I was covered in sweat and breathing hard and wondering what new aches I would discover in the morning. But it was an exhilarating trip back four decades to the thrill of the fantasy of new. New sneakers, a new bike and a brief dabble into the world of the superhuman.