Virginia Wind From Where I Sit March 2003

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Email Michelle at clooliss@hotmail.com.

Backseat - From Where I Sit

March 2003

That's My Bike and I Am Sticking to It

It's really hard to say where it all began. They say all great ideas are born out of desperation and looking back I would say that it is true. I think my dark decent was rather a rapid one. I believe I can trace it all back to a one week period:

Friday, February 14th - It's Valentines Day. The weatherman is saying we are in for a snow storm but it is a day of love so who cares? It is not a day to worry about ground hogs, almanacs or grandpa's surefire-gout-afflicted-weather-predicting leg. It is a day of hearts and roses that would surely melt any snow. All these predictions of snow storms are nothing more than a bunch of mass hysteria about nothing. You would think that by this time of year, every time someone mentions snow that there wouldn't be a mad rush to the grocery store for milk, bread and toilet paper. All I know is that today is the beginning of a 3-day weekend and with the kids in school Monday, it will be the perfect ending to a romantic weekend for Kent and me. Or at the very least, it will offer us another day to make a trip for the "Destinations" article together. Whatever snow we do get will surely be gone by then.

Saturday, February 15th - A bit of snow on and off. It's not enough to stop any activity but it is a bit much to ride today but there's always tomorrow. I knew those weather guys didn't know what they are talking about. Laughing at the TV weatherman I turn off the TV. You can never believe those guys.

Sunday, February 16th - Woke to snow. Turned the TV back on and every channel seemed to be mocking me with ridiculous amounts of snow accumulation predictions. Disgustedly I turned the TV off again and spent the rest of the day staring out the window at the lump of snow that I was pretty sure was the bike nestled under its cover. I guess riding today isn't going to happen. In fact, I saw Monday's possibilities rapidly disappearing as the schools were already announcing that they would be closed.

Monday, February 17th - TV is back off. Today is a day for working outside so that we can dig out of this prison. Even though we knew we weren't going any where, Kent dug the bike out first thing. This was a totally symbolic, though a totally futile gesture but it had to be done - it was the purest representation both the hope of a possible spring ride and defiance of the mountains of snow preventing this for at least the next few weeks. As that last shovel full of snow was flung to the side, I swear I heard a victory rumble somewhere in the distance.

Tuesday, February 18th - Turned the TV on to hear the latest closing announcements. Everything in the area is still pretty much shut down. While the announcers voice droned in the background, I couldn't help but glance over at the closet where all the riding gear was just sitting there, beckoning to me. As if in a trance, I moved toward it and put on the jacket and boots and almost immediately felt the stress start to melt away. Encouraged by the relaxing sensation, I decided to add the do-rag and fingerless gloves to my attire for the day. Then I realized there were really practical applications to this, I could use the do-rag for quick dusting jobs and wearing fingerless gloves offered great protection while cooking. Even wearing the helmet to check the mail had safety implications - you never know when you could be hit with a huge blob of melting snow or a falling tree branch. In fact, I am not sure why everyone wasn't wearing one.

Wednesday, February 19th - Still trapped. At this point it's hard to even reminisce about those long glorious rides to anywhere for absolutely any reason. Once again, I turn to the familiar resource of the housebound - the television. At least I was able to find a show about motorcycling. The name isn't important all that mattered was the theme. However, after about 15 minutes of this my mind quickly changed. One of the co-stars was a blonde hottie. Immediately I thought to myself "Bimbo" but then she said something very technically sounding about how "Aprilia delivers". Then I started feeling a little guilty at prejudging her. These generous feelings only lasted a few minutes until she unashamedly confessed that she had only started liking bikes a few weeks ago - according to my calculations that would have been about audition time for her. Off went the TV again.

Thursday, February 20th - Every outside activity is still cancelled so it's back to the TV for the evening. Oh well, at least tonight is "Survivor" - a show I usually look forward to. Yet, this evening it seemed to have lost some of its magic for me. In fact, right now the Amazon seems like a truly wimpy place, with a bunch of whiny wimps who don't know the true meaning of struggle. Try stranding a bunch of bikers in northern VA with weather so bad that they can't ride for over a month - now that's roughing it! Feeling rather smug and self-righteous, I turn off the TV and head to bed.

Friday, February 21st - The world is starting very slowly to return to normal but by noon it was raining. Flooding is predicted. I put on my rain gear and sit on the bike. I think I have heard them calling my name for hours but I have no intention of going back inside. I think I will stay right here until springtime. Nothing is going to make me get off of here. Hey, somebody call the network, I think I have an idea for a new reality TV series - "That's My Bike and I Am Sticking To It".

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