Jesse and I have yet to figure out a good strategy for the two nights a week that he has class. Jesse had been driving to and from class each week, which seemed like a waste of miles for such a short time period. Unfortunately, the trail is a) closed at night and b) kinda spooky. Neither of us are really comfortable with him riding University home (a busy arterial road with a lot of college-aged traffic), thus the car usage. This week we tried out a new strategy–I drove to work and Jesse bussed up to my work with the girls. We did a kiddo and car hand-off and I rode the bus home with the girls while he took the car to class. It did require quite a lengthy bus ride for the kids, but they didn’t seem to mind. I’m not sure this is the best strategy; it may work better next semester when Jesse will only have class one night a week.
I was riding home on the bus with the girls on Wednesday night, reading a book, coloring with Sofie, and generally having a nice ride. After some time, a guy next to us starts a game of Tic-Tac-Toe with Sofie. As a mom, particularly of daughters, I’m pretty guarded around strangers so I’m keeping a close and probably slightly-unfriendly eye on the situation. However, as I watch, it’s really just a nice moment. After the game, the guy comments to me on how well-behaved my kids are and that I’m clearly a great mom. It was just one of those really wonderful moments when you are thinking the worst about the world and you get this beautiful dose of humanity. Bus riding is not really normalized in Orlando, so it happened in the most unexpected of places. Nearly every single day I find myself marveling at how biking and living car-light brings such delightful little surprises into my life. I was basking in this moment and reflecting on all that is right in the world when Sofie responds to the guy with, “My daddy’s a roach. He got into the dumpster at PetSmart. I don’t know what family he comes from.” Ummm…yeah. The guy says, “It happens” and then of course it’s our stop and we have to get off the bus before I can say anything. LOL! What can I say–it’s true that my hubby has been known to dumpster dive on occasion. It’s not my thing, but he gets some pretty amazing things from behind the PetSmart–it’s unreal what they throw away. Gotta’ love kids!
Speaking of surprises, I took the car in today for an oil change and was reminded that it was time to replace my timing belt. I had budgeted for this, so it wasn’t terribly shocking–just annoying. I was quite surprised, however, to find out that I also need new tires fairly soon. I just bought nice tires in fall of 2007! All in all, I’m looking at around $1,200 for everything. Talk about an incentive to stay on the bike!
hahahahaha
Seems that the closed, unlit and spooky paths are a problem in many parts of the country this time of year. Making them this way sends a clear message that the paths are for recreation and not commuting, as most people commute after dark during the Fall, Winter and early Spring. Too bad.
Safety needs to be a priority, for the whole family. All the time.