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HELEN SANDERS
12-29-2021
THE TRICYCLE
By now those of you that know us have learned that we have moved into a new home in a retirement community. Retired? No way, but the owner of this place takes care of the mowing and the pool, so there is a lot less work. Smiles.
Our home came furnished with just about anything you could use, including two adult tricycles. These tricycles are for those that can’t get their leg over the bar of the two-wheel bikes. They don’t tip over as easy as a two-wheel bike. I had a tricycle until I was about 7 and learned to ride that like it was an airplane. I could take off and go, go, go but these adult tricycles are different. They are large and bulky.
This week we decided to take an early morning ride on them. You know, to get a “little exercise.” The tires needed some air, but fortunately this place came with an air compressor and hose, so that task was done quite easily. Then on to the tricycles we went. Neither Russell nor I could handle them. They had a mind of their own. Certainly, two educated “seniors” could handle a tricycle, but this was not the case. Russell rode into our two large flowerpots without even trying, and I missed a palm tree by using the hand brake. I had wished for a video because it would have been an instant hit. We might even have gotten a “million hits.”
In spite of this, we were determined to ride them, and with some effort on both our parts we were successful. We didn’t know that it would be difficult, but it was.
It reminds me of a Christmas day in 1968. Our oldest daughter was just two and her little brother was only five months old. On Christmas Eve her father put together her “first” tricycle. It was a challenge even for a rocket scientist to figure the directions out, but after about three hours and a few cross words he got it put together.
On Christmas morning he had great anticipation that our daughter would jump on that trike and ride it like a pro. When she saw it, she had no idea what it was. She did not get on it. Her daddy had to put her on it. Her feet did not reach the pedals and therefore she couldn’t ride it. Her dad was so displeased. He had expected something from her that was impossible to be received. Our daughter, like Russell and myself had not “learned” how to ride. It wasn’t her fault. It takes time to learn a new thing.
Often in the process of life there are a few pots that get bumped and we disappoint others in our inability to do things, but our daughter eventually learned how to ride and so have we. One thing I will remember is that today I laughed harder than I have in a while. So, it was a good lesson. Tomorrow we will try again and hope to miss the pots and the trees.
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