Calamity: Riding a bike

I have not been on a bike since I was about 13.

Most of the time, I tend to exaggerate stories, sometimes to make myself feel better and other times to make other people also feel better for me. I fell off my bike when I was 13. I was on my way back from the library with a friend and I caught a patch of gravel and skid a few feet. Scratches and bruises abounded as I picked myself up feeling ashamed I fell off the bike in the first place and second... my friend thought it was HILARIOUS.

I'm sure she didn't mean to add further to the apparent physical bruises, but it did. Since then I would avoid riding my bike, talking about biking and also bringing it up when anyone asked why I had such a distaste for bikes. At this point ,since I had an audience, I began to elaborate.

"So, I was speeding on my bike trying to get away from Ninjas and caught a patch of gravel and then ate a ton of dirt. After I fell, said friend relentlessly mocked me"- Well it's mostly true... mostly.

Yesterday, I got invited to ride bike on the boardwalk with some friends. Okay, I can do this....
Little did I know that there were a few events at the ocean front... and we were going to bike through a mass of people.... awesome. BUT I did it... and as they say, it's as easy as riding a bike.

After 13 years of not riding a bike and some perspective, I'm still not over exaggerating when I am hurt. Who doesn't like a good story with Ninjas?

I am however, learning to let go of misunderstandings, of things that happened in my childhood that I never understood, things that hurt... I'm letting go and allowing my bruises to heal even if I don't understand why. I couldn't control the gravel being on the road that day, nor the reaction of my friend. There is so much outside of my control, so I am sure there will be more bruises along the way.

I pleaded to have a helmet yesterday (No luck) but I was fine. Other than the heart palpitations and sweating I was golden on that bike.

So, I'm getting back on the bike, and hopefully riding off into the sunset.

Adieu,
Anne