Don't Yell at Me

     The other day my kids and I had a fantastic time at our local lake.  It was a hot day, but I was excited for the first afternoon of summer and a family bike ride.  We made it there fine. It was not a bad ride at all, even though my 11 year-old was sure it was too hot out to be riding.  We zoomed right past the parking lot attendant without paying a thing, and we had a great easy time at the lake and in the sand. I didn't even have to worry about bringing towels.  Everyone would just wind dry on the way home.  Our only trouble was the big left turn we needed to make on the way home.  Emma(my 9 year-old) did not get started as soon as the driver behind us wanted her to and he yelled something out his window to me like, "Get your kids off the road during traffic."

What a scuzz.

Does he expect me to stay clear off the roads during the hours of 5-10am and 3-8pm each day?
Are my children to stay safely in homes playing video games their entire lives?

Do you know that it is always, always old men drivers that yell at me and my kids on our bike(s)?
(just something I've observed)

And of course, it's not all old men that yell.  Its just when there is yelling, its coming from an old man.

But I shrugged it off and home we rode.

Or so I thought.

Today, we wanted to go to the lake again.  It was a beautiful day. Simply gorgeous.  It would have been beyond perfect to ride there today, BUT...... I hemmed and hawed and thoughts kept coming....

"What if we get yelled at again?'
"What if there is more traffic on the road?"
"It is high school graduation day."
"What if the roads are full of crazy graduate drivers celebrating and texting while driving?"
"What if their impatient dads are on the road too trying to hurry home to get the graduation party going?"

"What if they are all so impatient and distracted and reckless that they don't see my little Emma trying to get her bike pedaling across one of their intersections?"
(of course I am right next to her the whole time in my bright yellow big butted bike, but still...)

I wasn't able to shrug off that yeller as I liked.

We drove to the lake, and now my car seats are wet and covered in sand and I have a large load of sandy towels to wash and dry AND I didn't get to ride my bike today.  I love riding my bike and I love having my kids do it with me.

Old man driver who yelled at me, I repeat, "You are a scuzz."

People of my town. You have only one road through town. We don't have much choice of routes.
***Be alert, watch for bikes, share the road, and have some gosh darn patience.

And my cuties will wave and smile at you,
Kayla Marble