Bicycle

We have had this grand goal of being more green.  Hence, we tried to go no car for a week this summer.  It failed after two days.  Biking with all of the kids in 101 degree heat did not go well.  Fall hit,  and I wanted to try again.  We were on day 3 of our no car pursuit.  I loaded the kids, sans cell phone and rushed to pre-school.  We were late and I was pedaling like a woman possessed.  (Yes, have I foreshadowed this enough?)  I bounced over the tracks and the trailer caught the edge of a pole.  No, of course the kids were not hurt.  The trailer slowly wobbled and squeaked.  I was only a half-mile away from my goal.  As I tried to slam the wheel back into place, a kindly older man helped me lift the cart and suggested a rock.   A few bashes later, we were on our late way.   

After I picked IJ up from pre-school, I reminded myself to slow down and enjoy the day.  We took a bad brush with a prickly bush and we were done for.  Having no phone, duh, I had to figure it out alone.  I tried to fix it with my instant CO2 pump.  It got me 2 blocks.  I huffed it home enjoying the sweaty pulse of my thighs.  Once home, I tried to unbash the tire to repair the tube.  My 19-month-old picked it up and took it for a walk.  I still can't find it.  So, no, day 4 is not going to happen. Happily, I learned some lessons:

• People are still  kind everywhere.  Give them a chance.
• It is not easy being green.
• September is one of the most glorious months of the year. Get outside. (well unless you are in a hurricane right now.)
• Bring a cell phone.  How many times do I have to learn that?
• Stop rushing around everywhere.  Life is better on the slow.