I didn't ride my air-cooled bike to work today because the roads were wet this morning and I *just* got finished cleaning it up (for a change) and it takes a good 1/2 hour to clean it every time I ride it in the rain. Then... I got to work and found out everyone I normally have lunch with was working from home today, so I drove my water-cooled appliance/car back home at lunchtime. My youngest son (10 years old) called me from his school later and told me he'd missed his bus ride home. So I hopped on the "spike bike" and put an extra helmet on the back-rest and took off. Got to his school just as everyone was leaving. Typical end-of-the-day boredom look on everyone's face as I pulled up. I picked my boy up from the office, helmet in hand. You should have seen the look on his face when he realized I came to pick him up on the bike and not in the refrigerator on wheels. I mean how it changed from the end-of-the-day look to the "there's my dad on his sweet, sweet bike and he's gonna take me for a spin on it again!!! whoo hoo! Life ain't so bad after all!!!" We walked back out to the bike together where I'd left it parked in front a few of his buddies from school, at least the ones who also missed the bus for whatever reason. He put the extra helmet on like a seasoned pro (because he is) while his friends wiped the drool from their faces and all yelled goodbye to him like they thought I'd come back and give them a ride on the bike in a minute if they were loud enough . I swear I think they were literally jumping up and down as we started to pull away. I gave them all the Hard Krome salute as we took off, because I think it's against the law not to. Pulled up to the first stop sign and looked in the rear-view mirror and all I saw was a big smile. Two of them, actually, mine and his. :-) Damn, it feels good to be a gangsta... and also feels good to be a dad some days. This reminds me of something... Is that what a "biker" is, Stafford? Then yeah, I'm a biker.
- posted
18 years ago