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The Ride to School and Back | 12.28.00
Before there was the Honda Accord in my driveway and before I had a license in my wallet, I rode my bike. The summer before my junior year of football was full of bike riding. Every day around three o'clock, I had to make my 2-mile journey to school, most of it uphill. Then after my three or four hours of lifting, conditioning, and formation practice, I would ride my bike back home. The trip back was much easier because it was downhill. Sometimes I wonder if it's the bike riding that helped me to become more durable as a football player. In weather as hot as 98 degrees Farenheit, I would trek up on a continuous incline before finally reaching the parking lot of my school. Then again, riding a bike is much easier than walking and yet kids who walk to school aren't any more durable than I am. So why am I talking about this? I remember one time I was riding to practice. I happened to pass by the house of some girl I know. She was reading a book I had let her borrow. It was a fairly pleasant summer day; not too hot and not humid at all. She was sitting on her lawn under her tree. She was wearing short denim shorts and a tanktop, typical summerwear for a girl. But for some reason, she looked so good that day that it surprised me. She was a pretty girl to begin with, but on that day, she looked amazing. Maybe it was the lighting of the sun or the covering of the shade or maybe it was the view from my bike seat. I stopped to say hello and told her I was on my way to practice, but I made sure I had a firm image in my mind before I left. After that day, riding my bike became a daily lottery game. With my fingers crossed, I hoped that she would be reading on her lawn once more. I would forget that I had two miles to go uphill. Although I never got to see her again on her lawn, I would just recall the image of her on that sunny day, and that would be enough to glide me to school. |
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