When I was 12 years old, my walk to Jr. high took me down Monroe Street in Wichita Falls and past the Texas Lock and Key store, which sold bicycles.They had a bicycle in the store window that I had my eye on. I wanted it bad. Not only was it the new style, multi-speed bike with dainty little gear shifts, it was bright, lime green. So, I saved up my babysitting money and bought myself that bicycle.
It was beautiful. It was my treasure, and I took good care of it. Until one mistake - one night I left it outside rather than putting it in the garage. It was up against the house under my bedroom window, but still, someone stoled my bike. The police told us that there was a gang of kids on one side of town that stoled bikes and traded them with kids on the other side of town. They also told us there was little chance of getting it back, but they took the description. I was upset - more angry with myself and with the thieves than I was sad. Several months later, we got a call from the police; they thought they had my bike. I was so excited. Dad took me down to the police station where they brought out a bike. It was scraped and painted white with bits and pieces of the lime green showing. The fancy little gear shifts were gone and big clunky gears replaced them. Although the identity no. had been scractched off, it was in the same place mine had been. It was my bike, but it was ugly.
I held myself together until I we got to the car. Then I broke down and cried. I even told Dad that I did not want the bike anymore - it was like it was not my bike anymore - it was so ugly. I eventually got over it and rode that bike through my high school years and took it off to college. It was handy when I had to park in the commuter lot at Texas Tech. Later, I let Dad give it away to needy kids.
Yesterday I got my laptop back from the puter doctor. I was so excited. As soon as I could, I sat down to check things out and do a few little things the doc said to do. I couldn't do anything - couldn't find anything - everything was different. It was so frustrating. My expectations were to have my computer back good as new. Well, maybe that is the problem - it is like new. All my stuff is somewhere - I guess.Then the internet went down and I could not get online with any computer. Aieee! I felt like I did when I got my bike back - so frustrating - so discouraged. I told Toby that this was not my computer. Then I moped around and tried not to cry. I know it will be okay, but it is going to take some work. I need an "Easy" button.
Maybe it had been a difficult weekend. On Friday GBN1 was admitted to the hospital with bacterial pneumonia. What had started out as a cold, had quickly escalated to something worse. GBN1 was like a limp doll, yet her breathing was rapid and her heart rate was high. I spent the day at the hospital with her and her mother. It was tuff watching her so sick. By Saturday morning she was much better. It is amazing what antibiotics, breathing treatments, and fluids will do. Then it was difficult to keep her still and in the bed. They released her Saturday night.
Also an elderly good friend of ours died Friday after a brief battle with cancer. I hate that. Today we went to the funeral. He was a good man - a good father, a good grandfather. He will be missed.
Hopefully I can get the computer up to snuff soon. I will be a happier camper.
10 comments:
That is indeed a bad weekend. Hope things get better soon. Really sorry to hear about your friend. Hang in there Lou!
Thanks Chris. It is funny how while going through things, you don't realize how tuff it is on you. Then when it is all over, you realize there was a reason for your sour mood.
Ditto what the Old af Sarge said!
Thought you might like to see we are kindred Bike spirits:
http://joeh-crankyoldman.blogspot.com/2013/02/those-kids-dont-have-anything.html
Don't know how to follow you, so I have added to favs.
Wow, we have matching stories! Although I lived in an "iffy" neighborhood. My dad was a teacher and we lived in an older housing area that was slowly being taken over by the even-lower income folks. Maybe that was part of my outrage at having something I had worked hard for stolen. Later, when Dad gave my bike away, he probably gave it to the very families that stole it in the first place.
A tough weekend, indeed. My condolences on the loss of your friend, Lou... and I'm glad GB1 made it through her bout with pneumonia. That's some SERIOUS stuff.
Did you ask your computer doc where he put your stuff? I hate to raise this point, but if he re-installed the OS without copying all your stuff to an external drive first and copying it BACK after re-installing the OS... it might be gone. I shiver at the thought.
My computer doc is a busy man who works for a living - besides doing such things as taking care of me and my computer needs. Since I had just gotten the computer home, I hate to start calling him with a bunch of questions. It is all stuff that will take time and effort and more brain power than I had at the moment. I just wanted it all to be the same working computer (old dog/new tricks yada yada) Already, I have gotten some things back in working condition and it is getting better. Where in the heck (world) did my email go? I may call him on that one.
I know the feeling about theft. I'm kind of weirdo when it comes to theft of my belongings. When I was 16 I had this truck I paid $50 for. I fixed it up pretty good, and then one day it was gone. About three months later the police said they had it in the impound lot. I went to go get it, and it was all stripped of the good parts. The guy there said I owed them $150 to get it out of impound. Sorry buddy, I could buy three trucks for that! That's what I did, as my mind said - heck - been there done that, time for something new. The longest I've owned a car is about three years. Even if I rebuild it, I just get tired of it. Same with women I bring home. They just can't be fixed any further, so time to trade her in and get another fixer-upper :-)
A $50 truck! I've had some old trucks in my day, but that is something.
Sorry for your friend. Hard to let go. Sorry the GBN was ill. So hard to see small ones hurt.
The bike and computer problems stink. Hopefully all will be easy goin' soon.
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