It’s that time of year again, we can’t imagine traffic or holiday planning more frantic, then, suddenly it is.   We each in turn bemoan commercialism and department stores quest to top last years sales, and yet we get caught up once more in the frenzy.  Couldn’t we work on changing this?  It seems by making a positive change we could improve the quality of our lives.  Why not start by enjoying the company of family and friends and teaching our children or grandchildren that they don’t need an expensive electronic device to be happy, for as adults we have learned that life is not about thing’s, but rather people – family and friends.

Was reflecting on some of my Red Bike adventures, recalling fond memories of people, strangers I’ve met along the highways and byways.  One sunny day, I was cycling along Santa Monica Blvd., in Westwood, California.  Turned off and rode up a quiet residential street.  As I was riding up the hill, I came to a stop sign.  On the curb to my left was an elderly gentleman who stepped slowly off the curb into the crosswalk.   I could have jumped back onto the saddle and sped away, instead, I remained standing, straddling Red Bike as the elderly man made his way slowly across the street.  To my amazement, he stopped in front of me, and started up a conversation.  I turned to see if anyone was waiting impatiently behind, or speeding up the hill to run us both down, but no, so there we both stood, as if on a quiet country road without a care in the world.   He was very charming, he knew how to tell some very funny  jokes too.  Remarkably he was about ninety years young and was walking this lovely neighborhood alone.  He told of his life working at a movie studio years ago, and of the many famous people he met, and good times he enjoyed working there.  We had such a lovely conversation that I still recall our encounter fondly.  Riding a bike has afforded me many fun encounters.

Yesterday, for example I was cycling along when a man riding a hybrid bike pulling a small screened in trailer behind passed me by quickly.  I wasn’t going especially slow.  You know the kind of trailer that a mother would put her small child in to go along behind while she rides her bike, except, this trailers rear screen was entirely open.  There they were, three small pug dogs looking back at me.  I stood up in the saddle and rode fast trying to catch up to take a pic to show you, however, the cyclist was rushing somewhere, not stopping for stop signs, not even when he rode past the local Police Department!  Oh well, I did manage to get a pic of a cute little girl dressed as Minnie Mouse, all in pink on her first set of wheels.  Is this cute or what?

My wish for you this holiday season is that you find a way to slow down, even stop once in awhile along life’s journey, enjoy this your only life on this old earth, and remember what is truly important.  Happy Holiday’s and Happy Trails to you and yours!