A Sweet Ride Down Nostalgia Road

      Yesterday morning my husband woke up and said, "Let's go for a bike ride today."   My mind began to think about what I needed to do and what was on the boy's schedules.  I couldn't come up w/ anything.  I normally don't jump @ the chance to go on a motorcycle ride w/ David.  I always think about what a friend once said about riding w/ her husband - "My children need their parents, therefore I do not ride w/ my husband".   I think, "What if we wrecked, what about my boys?"

But yesterday several things occurred to me - 1. I believe that my death has a date just like my birth. It's already known by someone greater than anything I can do to avoid it.
2. My husband would die to protect me.  I know this for sure.  3. If the "Plan" was to wipe us out together, there are plenty of opportunities other than on the motorcycle. We spend a lot of time together. 

So I said "Yes"!  I dug out my boots and jeans that had been pushed to the back of my closet by  summer clothes and flip flops.  I tucked my id in the saddlebags (just in case) and kissed my boys goodbye. 

It always takes me a few minutes to relax and enjoy the ride.  After I relaxed I felt how perfect the weather was, not too cool, not too warm.   We headed up Lookout Mountain and I plugged my music into my helmet.  We turned off Hwy 35 to a road I didn't remember and began to ride along the side of the mountain.  I was taken in by the view and the shadows/sun, I didn't notice where we were heading....   We ended up back in Mentone and the bike slowed down as we pulled into a parking lot.  I recognized the building as a cafe we used to visit but it wasn't a cafe anymore.  It was a Coffee shoppe and Art Gallery.  We had a coffee and spent an almost an hour in the gallery of mostly local art.   www.KamamaMentone.com

Back on the road, music playing, winding through the mountain roads and we turned toward Cloudmont Ski & Golf Area.  We drove past a little cabin where we stayed many, many years ago and past the Dude Ranch where we rode horses w/ Parker when he was 3 yrs old.  We always remember it b/c Parker fell asleep on the horse. 

Riding down several other roads, we drove past the spots where we've canoed w/ the boys several times and over the bridge where we've jumped off  and swam under.  Then we came out @ the little country church where we were married.

Howard's Chapel, aka The Rock Church in Mentone

If he didn't plan all of that, he should never tell me b/c I loved every minute of it.  It was a perfect day and exactly what we needed.  Summer has been crazy and school has started. Normal Family stresses had taken a toll on me.  We have had major vehicle maintenance issues since March. The Yukon needed a water pump, fuel pump and then an engine. The work van had to have a Transmission.  My Land Rover needed A/C work and new tires (needed b/c they were BAD). The Washing Machine needed a new control board ( an ordeal that went on for a month) , ice maker went out on the fridge, we remodeled a bathroom and David traveled ALL summer.  And that doesn't include the normal issues of having a teenager in the house. These are just normal things that happen when you have a family and home but they build up and put stress on our families/relationships.

I needed a ride through the mountains w/ nothing but the man that I love and depend on to hold me up.  To listen to my favorite music and  remember the sweet things in our life that are special and that make up parts of our family. 

The day off costs us a box of Krispy Kremes as payment to the boys.