The first time I laid eyes on her, she looked stunning, even if it was nothing more than a tiny color photo in a catalogue that everyone handed around at work.
Oh, I know what you’re going to say. So go ahead, jump to your conclusions.
The truth is that I didn’t go looking for love in a catalogue. Honest. I was in the midst of a stable, long-term relationship that served me well. Then one day, she was just there.
New and exciting. Inviting. I knew instantly she could offer experiences I only had dreamed about. I fell in a heartbeat. Fell hard.
In my defense, I must say that I would never spend that much of my own money on anything like this. I don’t believe you can buy love.
To some in this situation, money’s no object. In my situation, it was simple. I could have her for nothing. A gift, if you will. Who finds themselves in a situation like this? How could I refuse?
So I took the plunge. She arrived, and I treated her like the queen. We had a great ride. We shared many an adventure together, both good times and bad.
Then, suddenly, that was it.
She was gone.
*Vanished.
I’m sure everyone has their own ideas on how you mend a broken heart. I find, in situations like that, it’s best to just move on.
Listen to Satchel Paige.
Never look back.
I did that a few years earlier, when a fleeting affair that began in a dark basement in a small town in Maryland with $200 exchanging hands eventually ended, as these things usually do, in a tragic way. Forget the details. The memories are too painful.
So this time I piled on my rain gear and ventured out into the Oregon winter with a heavy heart. I went to the typical hangouts, at least the ones that were open on a Sunday afternoon. I wasn’t just alone. I was also the victim of terrible timing.
I fought the urges of desperation. Like I said, sometimes in these situations it’s easy to forget about limits. Why not dig deep? Shell out the big bucks. I’ve tasted the fine life, and I wanted it back again.
Reality, however, prevailed. A queen is not what I need at this point. Heck, she’s gone because she was a queen. If she were just another run-of-the-mill worker bee, she’d probably still be with me today.
I found her replacement down across the tracks. I forked over $150 in cash, and took her home.
I did my best. I tried really hard. But we just didn’t click, you know what I mean? Hey, don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t her, it was me.
In the end, it was just a case of fit. We just didn’t fit together. So I walked away. I headed to a nicer part of town. I couldn’t believe all the beautiful options. I’m serious. Nice curves. Sleek lines. Pick your color. Pick you style. Whatever you want, you can have.
I went for it. I dug into the savings. I came up with enough money to get what I’ve privately had my eye on for years, ever since I got to ride one on a wild weekend in the woods of Vermont.
We stayed together for 10 years, my new partner and me, through thick and thin. I took her everywhere, even though I know I shouldn’t.
We had magic between us. I held onto her as long as I could. Eventually, though, she wore down, and was done. She hung in the garage until the Safelite dude came to replace my windshield. He saw her and wanted her. He got her. For free.
Sometimes I miss my old companion. But then I realize that times change. People move on.
Sometimes, just sometimes, a guy deserves a new bike.
Time to ride.
- Little did I know when I moved to Eugene, Oregon that it was the bike theft captial of the USA — more stolen per capita than New York City! We had three stolen as a family.
