That which does not kill you, will make you stronger

My son has a propensity toward surprises. A good surprise would be the one where he hired a limousine and took us out to a revolving restuarant in Perth for Jamie's birthday. Today was a surprise of different proportions. A few months back he 'shocked' his mother when he announced he had bought himself a motor bike. 'not too big Mum, only 250cc.' (I think that's what he said, my brain was rather muddled at the time). Anyhow I came to terms with this fact and said just don't tell me when you are out riding it.
Today we went over to his house for a visit. He asked me to try on the helmet and the jacket and gloves I would wear if I were ever to venture on to his bike. 'you look great Mum, how about a ride now you are all dressed up and ready.' He looked so excited I just couldn't make an excuse not to, although a couple of reasons did spring to mind.
I have to say both he and I were very impressed by the way I was able to hop straight on to the bike and seat myself.
Sami and Jamie waved us goodbye and off we sped. Actually the ride was great, we rode along the beach front and I was even able to open my eyes and enjoy the view. There is something about riding free with the wind in your hair, or is it the people you pass by and you imagine how they must envy you. Anyhow it was a fun trip. When we arrived back home Jamie thought he should have a turn also. 'Che Guevara rode a motor bike' he declared. I wasn't sure what that had to do with anything but off they went and he too enjoyed his ride with Nath.
Afterwards Jamie and I discussed the trips we would like to take when I retire from work. We chose buses, trains and a car, strangely enough motor bikes didnt enter our thoughts.
Still I will ride again with Nath, I think he was proud of us and I'm certainly proud of me.
Glen

Neighbourhood Hero

Today was a lovely warm Spring day and Jamie and I went to visit Nath and Sami. We sat out on their front porch, soaking up the sun and chatting. Have you ever observed an incident occurring and not taken in the full consequences? For the past half an hour or so there was a lady on the corner house who kept walking up to the huge iron gate at the side of her house and walking away again. We didn't notice where she went as were weren't really paying her a lot of attention. Suddenly we realized she was at her front door and whenever she left and walked back to the fence a small child began wailing plaintively from inside the house. On further observation we realized she was walking to the front door and trying to open it, then walking back to her gate and attempting the same thing. This was connected to the distraught crying of the child.
'I think she is locked out of the house' one of us decided. We watched her make two more attempts and then all agreed, this was the case. We held a small discussion about what we should do in this instance, then Jamie said he would walk over and break the ice as it were, find out what was happening and go from there.
He walked across the road and was greeted excitedly by the neighbour who explained her plight. She had gone through the front door and her 18 month old granddaughter had inadvertently locked it behind her.
Jamie and the neighbour walked to the iron fence and realized that neither of them could climb over it as it was over 6 feet high. Plus there was an alsatian barking madly in the yard, so certainly strangers wouldn't be welcome, in fact they may have even be eaten. Then Nath decided he was the youngest male and the fittest so off he raced to the rescue. Sami and I watched another discussion between the three, then Nath returned home and went out to his shed. Armed with a screwdriver and other tools he headed back to the neighbour. In no time at all he had unscrewed the huge gate so the neighbour had access to the back door. She was delighted and raced into the house, coming out the front door with the child in her arms and waving to the two heroes.
All in all another eventful Sunday.