A recycled picture of me from about 4th grade. Sorry to have to keep using the same ones, but I'm the youngest, so I only have a few kid pics.Ananda at Oodles of Funch was talking about her first cycling mishap. It sounded like something fun to write about, so I'm copying her:
"Put the pedal to the metal, Linetti. Burn rubber!" I yelled because I just looked back and saw the boys gaining on us. She was riding my new red, white and blue Liberty Bell bike, with a banana seat. I let her because she was bigger and stronger than me and I knew she would make us go faster.
It was all my fault the Peyton boys were even chasing us. We were in my yard eating lemons with salt, when Mark yelled at us, "Hey, stupid girls!" I never liked him. His brother Glen was nice. Glen used to mow our lawn and one time he caught a horny toad for me for my birthday. Because it was an endangered species, I was going to let it go in 3 days. But my cat bit its head off before I had a chance and I was sure I was going to jail. Mark was just plain mean, though.
So, I took aim as they headed toward their house and hit Mark right on the back of his head with my lemon. He called out to his brother and they both stopped. Before they could turn their bikes around, Linetti and I hopped on mine and there we all were, racing around the block.
I sat behind her and let my feet dangle down as we sped down the street. It was good to feel the wind against my bare legs and feet. Since we lived in Arizona where it is almost always warm, I hardly ever wore shoes. My mom made me around my grandma, because it bothered her and she would always tell me that my feet would get too wide and I'd never be able to buy shoes when I got older, but mostly I went everywhere barefoot.
We were almost at the Harley house, when my heel got caught in the spokes of the back wheel of the Liberty Bell. Clunk! The bike just stopped and Linetti went over the handle bars. I'm not sure how I landed, just that I was really scraped up and my heel was cut and flapping when I tried to walk.
All the bikers hanging out at the Harley house ran over. First they checked to see if we were okay, then they yelled at the boys. The Peyton boys were no strangers to trouble and were smart enough to ride their asses away as fast as they could.
Linetti was fine except for a few scrapes and walked my bike with me through backyards to get to my house faster. Flap, flap, flap, went my foot as I walked. And the blood. There was so much blood. I didn't cry until I saw my mom. That's how it was with me. I was always fine until I saw my mom...And then I lost it. We didn't go to the hospital. Instead my mom ran some water in the tub and had me soak my foot in it. She bandaged it after the bleeding stopped, and to this day there is a crooked smile on my right heel.
10 comments:
Funny-- I just made a Mix CD (the new version of the Mix Tape) and put Melanie's "Look What They've Done To My Song" on it. I put "Brand New Key" on a Mix CD I did for Kim right after we met, much to her delight.
Melanie's first hit, "Lay Down Candles (In The Rain)") was her first hit, and about her experience playing at Woodstock.
I had that album! Melanie was great. I liked this song the best. "I don"t go to fast, but I go pretty far!"
Thanks for the mention Churlita.
I absolutely love this story! I could see those boys in my head. I felt the wind on my legs and feet. That crocked smile on your foot is a treasured memory. Cool beans!
I loved the picture too. What a cutie pie you were... and still are, actually. :)
Excellent
Youch, that had to hurt like hell! I used to get my knees banged up a lot in the summer, and like you I couldn't cry until I saw my mom...Not like seeing my mom made me cry, but she would usually know what to do and she gave me sympathy.
I really enjoy reading other people's memories. I get the sensations...but without actual physical pain.
The thing about how we react to our moms makes me think of babies, and how when they fall, they often don't even cry if no one is looking at them...or if you smile and clap like they just did a little trick for you, they smile too.
Ouch, that just sounds unpleasant. I've just taken the usual spill hitting my head, scraping up my legs and knees and all that common stuff. I've never caught my foot in the spokes like that.
By the way, I have new web address, please note it. Thanks.
Ugh. Crashing a bike--few things worse as a kid. I can still feel it. Maybe because I've done it recently. Heh.
So, after all that bare-footedness, can you fit into shoes now that you're older?
wow...i really like your voice in that piece of writing. very cool. have you written more like this?
My worst crash as a kid was in my court on the gravel. What is funny is I fell, started crying and instantly, a neighbor who was there ran to help me. I guess that wasn't good enough though because I ran away from her and ran straight to my house. I guess comfort from MOM was more imprtant.
Johnny,
I actually like most of Melanie's songs. They haven't even been too overplayed lately.
Ananda,
Thanks for giving me the blog fodder. It was a fun writing exercise.
A.,
Thanks. I owe you an email.
Tara,
There's nothing like that unconditional love to make it okay to break-down.
LauraB.,
Reading about pain is so much easier than experiencing it. That's why I'm such a voyeur.
AlienCg,
I'll try to get around to updating the new address. I have a ton of blogs to edit on the roll.
JWilliam,
Well, yes. My feet are wide, but I inherited it from my dad's side of the family. Plus, I've been running since I was 10, so who knows if they would be whether I went barefoot or not.
Em,
Oh yeah. Most of the other nostalgia stuff is better written though. I wrote this piece in about 20 minutes and didn't get it proofread. Sometimes it's good to write it down and clean it up later...Or at least that's what I tell myself when I don't have time to do a proper job.
Mrmanuel,
Comfort from moms is always more important.
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