Hearts and Humor - On Two Wheels

Hi, Gang!

I'm late with a story again.

There are many reasons for my late stories.
I'll soon tell you why. There are painful reasons
why I'm not able write them now.


I pray you understand.


Thanks to all our new members. I pray my words
keep you coming back.

Mike



    I Love your comments.
    Send them to: msmith4@nj.rr.com

    If anyone is interested in greeting cards or crafts,
Ginny belongs to a group of artists. They've teamed
together to market their products. Check them out at:
http://www.etsygreetings.blogspot.com


    Ginny's cards and other crafts are at:
http://www.ginginsgoodies.etsy.com


    Be sure to check out my collection of inspirational
sites at the end. There's something for everyone.


    Now for today's story.




                        On Two Wheels

    It had coaster brakes and only one gear. My two older brothers
used it before me. The twenty-inch, black frame showed its age. It
was scratched and nicked from years of use, but I didn't care. It
was mine now.

    In the front yard, I held the handlebars, swung my right leg
over, and settled myself onto the seat.  My legs weren't long enough
for both to touch the ground at the same time. I leaned to one side.
One foot supported me. I looked around, made sure no one watched,
and kicked off. My feet reached for the pedals and began to pump.
After a few wobbly yards, I fell off, landed on my shoulder in
the grass, jumped up, brushed myself off, got back on, and fell
again.

    A week later, I rode in circles around the yard, always to
the left. I didn't wobble or fall. I was steady, as I followed the
beaten trail I'd created in the grass. The wind created by my
movement cooled my sweat-stained face.

    I was free.

    I was flying.

    "Michael!" Mum called. "Supper's ready!" I turned toward
the front steps, wobbled and fell to the ground.

    I didn't know how to go straight or to the right. I'd learned
to travel in circles to the left.

    One day I became brave. "Mum, I'm going to take my bike to
Grandmum's."

    "Are you sure?" she asked.

    "I can do it, Mum."

    Grandmum lived at the bottom of a short hill from our house.
I'd walk there often, but when I sat on my bike at the top of that
hill, it seemed much higher than I remembered. I put my feet on
the pedals and started to roll. My speed increased. I pushed back
on the pedals, braked to a halt, stepped off, and walked my bike
to the bottom. On level ground, I got back on my bike, and pedaled
to Grandmum's.

    "Do you have any muffins, "I asked.

    She laughed. "You know where they are." I ran to her pantry.
In the cupboard was a plate filled with fresh baked muffins, smothered
in pink icing - my favorite.

    "Did you see me, Grandmum?" I mumbled, my mouth full. "I brought
my bicycle! Did you see me?"

    Grandmum hugged me. "I saw you, Michael. You did well, but I
saw you walk your bike down the hill. It's scary, isn't it? You didn't
have control, but you'll get it right.

    "You're getting big. When you're older, you'll be bicycling
all over the place. I'm proud of you.  You'll get control."

    A few weeks later, I rode my bike to the bottom of that hill.
I had my brakes on all the way, but I had control.


    I grew up and left home for a new job. That first week, I cried
a lot - lonely. Mom wasn't there. I fought through it. It was a
new hill to roll down. Over time, I learned to cook, clean, and take
care of myself. Grandmum was right, I learned control and to use
my brakes. I got through my fear and learned to survive and stayed
on my bike.

    Much later, I married and became a dad - more stumbles and
turns. There were sports and school functions to drive the kids to.
I sat my bike aside and taught them to ride theirs.

    I've wobbled, stumbled and fallen, but I've always gotten up,
brushed myself off, climbed back on the seat, and learned to turn
around the obstacles. I've always thought I had it under control,
but life  holds surprises. I've fallen many times: lost work,
moved, raised children, and held my first wife's hand as she took
her last breath.etc.

    The turns taught me to stay steady.

    Life is a series of turns, stumbles and getting back on the
seat. Life is learning to gain control.

Michael T Smith



     If you enjoy a story, feel free to pass it on to your friends.
   
My only request is that you include the link for your friends to

join our family.

To join our family, go to:

http://subs.zinester.com/86758/

    As promised, here is a list of great inspirational sites.

I subscribe to all of them. You will love these sites.

    A good friend of mine has a new book out. You should check
this out. Carol's been through rough times. She tells it all
in her latest book.

Carol Roach
M.Ed, B.A.
Publisher: Storytime Tapestry
Author: Angels Watching Over Me:http://www.lulu.com/content/644485
Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey: www.publishamerica.com

To join Carol's story site, go to Storytime Tapestry at:
http://archives.zinester.com/98907/

From my wonderful writing friend, Jan. She writes wonderful
stories about her life and losing her sight.
Janet Perez Eckles
Faith and Love with a Latin Flair
www.janetperezeckles.com


Here's a good one by Linda Della Donna
Freelance Writer
www.littleredmailbox.com
www.griefcase.blogspot.com
www.storybone.blogspot.com
"...and sometime when I wasn't looking, I got a new life."

By my good friend Keith in Australia:
http://www.agiftofinspiration.com.au/

My friend Phil runs http://www.peoplestuff.com.au/
Phil's awesome and brutally honest

Zev, yes another friend, runs http://empoweringmessages.com/stories/

Heart Catchers is a wonderful site.  www.DianeDeanWhite.com

www.Heartwarmers.com and www.petwarmers.com are two

wonderful story sites.

http://hodu.com/

http://www.mydailyinsights.com/

www.ripplemaker.com

http://www.sermonillustrator.org

http://www.SkyWriting.Net

Here's a newly discovered one I like:

http://www.archive.zinester.com/9516

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WarmFuzzyStories/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WithInSight/

If you, or anyone you know needs prayers for health concerns,
struggles,etc visit www.janetperezeckles.com
Janet's prayer group will respond.

That's all I can think of right now. If I come up with

more, I'll add them.

Enjoy!!!


I love your comments, Send them to msmith4@nj.rr.com.

I'll include some in every post.

Now for a few comments on my last story: