Schwinny, Schwinn, Schwinn

My dad sent an email titled “My first bike.”

This is just like the 1st and only bike I ever had as a kid. My Mom bought it for me at Western Auto in Many, La. in 1962 for $48.00. That was a lot of money in 1962 especially for a family of 9. I found this one on Craigslist in Pacific, Mo. I paid $60 for it which is a great deal. It is all original and ride-able but I've just got it hanging from the garage ceiling for ole times sake. Just a little history of my childhood days.

When I shared that email with Ben he said, “$42 sounds like a lot of money today!”

Once upon a time I had a bike. I practically lived on that thing. The pink and purple huffy was the best thing since sliced bread. It actually had handle brakes and gears. I rode that bike up and down Saddlebrook Drive with the wind in my hair and absolutely no worries. I have very fond memories of pedaling downhill as fast as I could and coasting at a certain point to see how far I would make it. My friends and I did that over and over and over again. Those were the days. I felt fearless on that bike.

When the wheels weren’t on the pavement, I had the bike turned upside down. I would spin the pedals with my hand and pretend that I worked at an ice cream shop. I suppose I didn’t really understand what happened at a for-real ice cream shop. I’ve never seen anyone churning ice cream via a bicycle pedal. Oh well. It was fun and accurate in my eyes and no one ever said anything different.

Another bike dear to my heart was the BMX I received as a Christmas present. My dad hid it in the basement and left clues around the house. I loved that bike because it had pegs. Those pegs were awesome. I felt ultra cool when I had a friend riding on the pegs of my bike. The world was my oyster.

I’ve been without a bike for more than 15 years, but I still know how to ride one. I don’t know if it’s the bike that I miss or the memories associated with the bike. Perhaps one day I will own another bike. Who knows, I might even inherit a 1962 Schwinn.