My dad always said, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." Well...
Jesse picked me up from work today and on the way home, I spotted a bike by the side of the road with a "FREE" sign on it. We pulled off and I got out of the car to examine the value of the offer. Meanwhile, a woman sitting on the balcony across the street (Main Street, to be exact) took it upon herself to shout at me repeatedly "Take it! Take it!" I'm already slightly hearing impaired and the 5:00 Main Street traffic did not help my ability to understand this woman, so I nodded and smiled and asked "Is it yours?" which, of course, she could not hear me shout.
Luckily, a man came out of the house that the bike was actually in front of and said, "It doesn't have brakes."
"Oh," I replied. "It's yours?" He kindly responded that yes, it was his and that I needn't settle for this fine piece of machinery because I could have my pick of other bikes he had in his basement. I motioned to Jesse and he got out of the car to join me. As we followed the kind gentleman into his basement, he politely said, "Don't mind the mildew smell." Frankly, I was a little more concerned about the alcohol on his breath, but I proceeded regardless.
In the cellar, I had my pick of two bikes: an ordinary forest green 10-speed (just my style) and a pink and purple USA Mt. Climber that strongly resembled the bike I owned when I was 12 years old. Unfortunately, the forest green bike had a gear skipping problem...
So, I did what any other working class Mennonite would do. I hopped on the USA Mt. Climber (would I dare grace my butt cheeks with a bike of any other national origin?!) and - trousers, loafers, collared shirt, and all - I pedaled my way home.
Jesse brought back the car, then returned for the brakeless bike. He rode it home using his tennis shoes as stoppers. We think we can salvage the tires and put them on a different bike.
Let this be a lesson to you: next time you see a 23-year-old business woman riding to work on her pink and purple 10-speed, don't laugh...because...it's probably me and that would hurt my feelings.
2 comments:
The phrase "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" is from a "New England maxim" according to a mug your mother bought me. The general idea in my own mind, however, is inherited probably from my parents or grandparents who lived through the depression of the 1930's.
--- dad ---
I'm a little uncomfortable with the fact that you went into the mildew-smelling basement of a potential alcoholic stranger.
However, I'm glad that Jesse went with you.
And that the bike worked out.
-Kylee
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