First bike, first fall

Gabe rode his first bike, care of Grandma Jan and Grandpa Dennis; it was a birthday to remember. He was very concerned that his bike might not have four wheels like the other 5 year olds, but he was reassured that his bike met his expectations when he saw the thing assembled and ready to roll. He took off a bit hesitant but got a feel for his new wheels after awhile. He conquered the hill on our neighbors drive way and also had his first spill, due to the turn of handel bars in the wicked turn of our cul-d-sac (refer to the photos). He survived and he wept, but he picked his bike back up and off he went. Emotionally scared I'm sure.

All of his excitement was delivered in a box. As for the rest of his birthday presents he could barely sleep for the next few days after his birthday party. He was swarmed with GI Joes, weapons, spiderman paraphanelia, and playdough. The kid has it all. When his good friend Azariah came over, there was no sharing to be had!

I can remember my first time on a bike without my training wheels. We lived in a brown house on the very busy 13th street. I climbed up on an antique wooden crate that was in the garage. Someone (I presume a parent or sibling) helped push me off to be on my independent way. I was scared of all the balancing that was required, I'm not much of a dare devil, so whoever was helping me grew weary and walked away to leave me to my own slow learning. I had to calm those voices in my head, screaming "look out for the car 15 feet away," "watch out for the curb 4 feet away!" "Don't let the tire hit that pebble, you'll go down hard and fast!" Frankly,I got tired of being a weeny and began pushing myself off the crate. I eventually got the hang of it and peddled down the block. I even remeber a cop car rolling by and I was thinking, " I wonder if he would save me if I rolled into the street?" Anywho, I was five, and I remember the shear terror of the idea of falling, I took a few spills , but I still had all my limbs when I turned 6.

Gabe and I think similarily,so I can safely assume that his mind was terrorizing him as he peddled his way around the block. Our big boy was a success and will be writing about this 20 years from now.