OUT IN THE DARK

In the spirit of Mrs. G's challenge to do something new and scary (it was a while ago and I can't find the post to link), I agreed to go out on my bike at night. I am not a sure and steady bike rider in the broad daylight.  I hate riding near cars - or people for that matter. Tom LOVES his night rides and comes home thrilled with his adventures in the darkness.

What lured me out into the dark?  Fireworks.  We live less than a mile from the county fairgrounds and this year they were shooting off fireworks every Friday night.  We can't really see them from home because of the trees and we noticed that a local park filled up with families and picnickers the previous Friday.

We left in daylight and found a spot on the patio of a local brew pub with good food.  Then as it was getting dark we rode down the street a mile or so to the park.  It was scary for me even though Tom affixed no fewer than 4 lights to my bike.  It was flashing and strobing and lit up like a parade.  I could see his headlight steady and straight and mine wobbling all over the road!  I felt a little queasy, but I made it. 

The park with full of kids draped with glow lights.  It was entertaining to see them flitting around like noisy multicolored fireflies.  The fireworks show was great and the ride home much less nerve wracking.  It really was a lovely night.

THINGS I CAN'T SAY TO MY HUSBAND

I can't say this to Tom because his love for the Tour de France is going to get me to France someday. It is his dream to see the Tour - it is mine to spend time in France.

Coverage of the Tour is on daily, several times daily. He soaks it all in. He talks about reincarnation so he can ride in it in a future life. The man has 7 bicycles. (He has the good sense to avoid spandex, however.)

The commentators go on and on about how hard it is, how tired the riders are. They don't actually see the lovely countryside, just a sea of colorful spandex. They talk about all they give up, all they go through. On and on. Pain. Anguish. Hydration. Crashes.

And I am thinking of men bent over, working in the fields to feed their families. Children being orphaned by bombs. People pounding the payment looking for work. Old ladies suffering in hot apartments.

Real life hard stuff. Not sought out and chosen. No support staff for them. No massage at the end of the day. No sponsor throwing free clothes at them.

Just a ray of sunshine this week. That's me!