As the oldest of 3 boys my brothers got to learn from my mistakes, although I'm not sure the middle brother actually paid attention. I come from a family of very quick witted, and snarky people. It has always been customary to exploit eachother's shortcomings for yours, and anyone else in the rooms enjoyment. Now it sounds like we were a bunch of jerks that you'd like to see stuck on the side of the road changing a tire and getting what we deserve. But it always came from a place of love, and good humor. I can honestly say I wouldn't of had it any other way.
I say all that to tell you this. My youngest brother was always the baby of the group. All he had to do was just look up at my parents with those sad eyes, and his 2 months of grounding would turn into "you have to go to bed an hour early tonite." When I was younger, although incredibly frustrating, I was always amazed to watch it happen. That being said, as an older brother, and with my parents unable to do any of his needed disciplining, middle bro and I took it upon ourselves to cut the young one down to size from time to time.
One of the great examples of this was learning to ride a bike. You see our little brother didn't learn to actually ride a bike on his own until he was 13 years old. That "ride of passage" if you will, never interested him. He was quieter, and had his qwerks. We would tease him all the time. And when his friends would come over, we would make sure to see if they all wanted to go ride bikes around the neighborhood. (Don't worry, if you're thinking to yourself that I'm a total asshole I get mine in the end, so just keep reading.........and don't be so judgemental. It was funny!).
Well a recent change has happened in my life. I've recently turned 26, moved to Austin, TX from Seattle, WA, and realized that I can't drink soda and eat burgers all day, and stay in shape. So I did what every guy my age group does when they hit this wall and tried watching what I eat. I'm not sure I totally grasped that concept because I made sure to keep a real close watch on all the junkfood while I was eating it, and I still gained weight! So realizing that Coca Cola is something that my body is not capable of doing without I decided to exercise. I'm not sure if you guys know this, but Lance Armstrong lives in Austin, TX. As well as there is an enormous biking community. So that's what I did. I got a bike!
Knowing my propencity to giving up on things I don't enjoy (thanks high school algebra, I can't say I learned nothing I guess) I decided if I was going to do it I would go all the way. I bought I good road bike, with the shoes that clip into the pedals, the helmet, computer, pump, repair kit, water bottle, nice lock, and yes the bicycle shorts. After taking one bike out on a 5 minute test ride, the next day I woke up quite sore. So with injuries still tender, when I went to purchase the bike I threw pride out the window for comfort. As my family has become aware of my new healthy hobby, and the less than flattering uniform, there has been no shortage of jokes at what a site I must be huffing down the road. And to their credit I'm sure they are 100% accurate.
During a trip my youngest brother and his fiance took to visit me, Miss Cupcake, and Sweetie McGee in Austin, we saw a great many number of cyclists on our adventures around the city. And man did he ever make sure to take advantage of some payback. No matter where we were, diner, movies, shopping, or even just driving along. Whenever we saw someone that was obviously "new" to biking he'd yell "There goes my brother." Or he'd ask me in front of a waitress, "is that what you look like?" Yes yes it all came full circle.
You know maybe the really good idea is don't make fun of your brother for not riding a bike, because you might end up as some out of shape amateur in the Lance Armstrong starter kit puffing your way to a heart attack when it bites you in the ass.
Sorry there were no pics of the food from the last couple days. Tomorrow's blog will be all about food, and a few wines I love that aren't rough on the pocketbook. So hope you had a great Thursday, and goodnight.
Well done. It was fun in our house when you boys were growing up and developing into young men. I think all the quick wit made you boys develop a quick mind. Now if I could just get you to edit your blog before you post. LOL It is very good.
ReplyDeleteHehehe...loved the story and the mental picture of you in the gelled on shorts. Have you asked Miss Cuppycake how old she was when she learned to ride her banana seated, Mermaid bike that she won in a contest??? Or found out that her 3 years younger baby sister could ride with out training wheels at three years old and go over jumps, while watching her big brother "ride" while standing on the crossbar with no hands down a graveled potholed road? In her defense, she could read at three and I think the other two where somewhere in high school before they caught on to it, so like you, it all came around in the end.:)
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