It’s finally here! Spring!
Here in Michigan the winter was long, hard, and bitterly cold. And though spring took it’s time getting here, the wait was well worth it! The trees and flowers are in bloom and the temperature soared to near 80!
While I was out on my errands, I saw a young father running next to and holding on to his little daughter’s bike. She was about five years old. It was a big day for her! She was learning how to ride her bike without the training wheels!
I sure remember the day those training wheels came off my navy blue Schwinn bike with my dad running along the side of the bike holding on to the seat!
It was a day similar to this one, little wind, the sun shining brightly, kids out playing. My dad, mom and I had made the decision the night before that “tomorrow” the training wheels would come off the Schwinn. That entire day was filled with both excitement and dread. What if I fell? What if I couldn’t do it? But if I can do it, then I will be like all my friends who just had their training wheels off their bikes and were flying down the street!
I don’t think I slept much the night before the ‘big day”. And I do remember the hours were incredibly long as I waited for my dad to come home from work.
When he did arrive home, we went directly outside and he took the training wheels off the bike. This was it. I got on the bike, and I knew my dad was right there. And we were off! “Don’t let go yet” I remember saying to him. “Don’t let go yet” I repeated over and over , until I was at the end of our long block and realized that my dad had let go of the seat and was running along side of me! “Keep going” he said, “You’re doing great, just keep going”. And I did. And when I reached the end of the block, I turned the bike around and rode back to our house by myself!
I remembered my sense of pride and accomplishment that day. I did it. And as I was returning home from my errands, I saw the young girl riding her bike by herself with a big smile on her face, equaled to the smile on her father’s face as he was watching her on his front porch!
I wonder if fifty years from now, she will remember this day and judging from that smile I saw, consider it a big day in her life!
Remember when you learned to ride your bike?
