Amy came into Recycled & New Bicycles about a month ago. Her eyes sparkled with the fire of life smoldering inside. I’m not trying to be literary. You could plainly see the beauty and warmth in her eyes. The permanent smile lines entrenched in her young face were a road map leading to the fire. Amy needed a reconditioned bicycle for a journey. No, she was not just riding up to the USU campus; she was going to pedal all the way to Cincinnati. I asked her about WKRP, but she had never heard of it. Ah, youth.
I was ready to help.
Here was a chance to vicariously go along on her journey, and a chance to relive a journey I took over 15 years ago.
I sold her a reliable old steel MTB and told her the journey would change her life forever.
I told her about my life changing, sinusoidal ride from Chattanooga to Jacksonville, a long time ago.
We put a rear rack on the bicycle.
She hooked up an old trailer, and rolled away.
Amy has sent four post cards since she left.
Here are her baikus:
Windshield-less, naked
Eyes and ears more thoughtful now
Watch, smell, feel. Love life.
Characteristic
Black chain marks on my right calf
Gaily shout, “I bike”
Their eighteen big wheels
Knock the living breath from me
My lifted hand waves
Coy spider’s silk thread
Flaps merrily in the breezes
Catching bug and sun
Warm river, wet vein
Sun pulses as heartbeat of
Tree, squirrel, rock, me
Hot honeyed tea cup
Warms chilled hands and mind to
Consciousness of time
Colors swirl and dance
Encircling bike and me
Leaves trace summer’s light
My “partner” called
“When you get back home, we’re through"
Ouch. Illinois hurts
Rocking towards home
What awaits, unknown
Yet I pedal still
Well, Amy, I told you the journey would change your life.
I hope you made it home.
Thank you for the poetry (my edits are allowed under International Poetic License). Leave a comment if you want to.
Oh how wonderful! It seems rather ridiculous to me that it's only now...nearly 6 weeks since returning home, that I've found this posting while searching for your email address. Fun! I think your editing 'tis marvelous...second only perhaps to your mechanic skills. Bike and I made it home to Cincinnati on Halloween (three weeks and one day after leaving Pueblo CO). Gosh, what a totally marvelous trip. I'm already eyeballing the route from Maine to Washington (do I REALLY want a job next summer?? What's money anyway...I have a tent and two wheels now...conventionality doesn't seem to stand a chance). Glad to see pictures and hear hilarity from your own pedaling. Thanks again for all of the encouragement and kind description of my smile lines (perhaps my favorite feature :) ) Take care! And if I find myself in Logan again I'll be sure to stop in!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you finally saw this. Send me an email, I still do not have any contact info for you. Ride on!
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