PLACE = Plum Island in Newbury, MA
DATE = Thursday, July 1, 2004
TIME = 6:30 PM
I had a nice surprise when I arrived home from work this past Thursday, July 1, 2004. My father had called me earlier in the week and asked if he could leave his bike at my house for the next few weeks. That way, he could go riding with me on Plum Island and not worry about lifting his bike on and off the car each time. So he called me at work around 6pm this past Thursday and asked if I was coming home soon. He told me that he was at my house and told me that he needed my assistance to get his bike off of the car. I told him I was leaving in 10 minutes. When I arrived at the house, both my mother and father were relaxing in chairs in my driveway. As I was lifting the bike off of the car I started to think, "Boy, I don't remember Dad's bike being this light." I put the bike on the ground and started to walk away. My mother and father then said we hope you like your new bike. It is your birthday and Christmast gift. I was speechless. It is a beautiful bike with 21 speeds that shifts with just the click a button. It even has shock absorbers! The ride is incredible. I went over the big hill that leads on to Plum Island without a problem today. The other bike is 25 years old and gets stuck in gear and freezes when going up hills. I used to always dread hills with my old bike. That is one reason I ride the refuge...no hills. So, now I will have a spare bike at my house for my friends to ride the refuge with me. Of course I asked Barbara if she would go riding with me and she looked at me like I had 3 heads. Barbara is definitaly a Disney girl and not a biking girl. I am floored by the wonderful gift of the bike. I have been making do with my good old standby that I bought in 1979. I will think of my parents each time I ride this beautiful new bike!
