The Bike Ride

A few days ago, I decided I wanted to bike to the Farmers' Market on Park Ave. But I needed a friend. I called Gabriela.

[Relatively] early this morning, we got up and prepared for the long ride. When we started out, I was bundled warmly. Before long, however, I shed my gloves and sweater and basked in the warmth of Saturday.

Gabriela rode our bike; I rode Julia's. We made quite a pair, both bikes clunking and clicking along. Despite the not-so-smooth-or-quiet bicycles, we made good time, and were at the Farmers' Market by 10:00am.

The bright sun and clear sky had called crowds of people to the market. Milling about the stalls, they ate samples and bought vegetables and brushed shoulders. We joined them, and a nice man gave me a plum--for free! After we'd had our fill of samples and sight-seeing, we bought bagels from the bakery inside and ate them leaning against a fencepost, the sun in our eyes. Oh, delight! That is a meal I will be thinking of for a long, long time.

By the time we returned home, it was time for Gabriela to meet her mom. After dropping her off, I picked up Macy and Mollie and went to Jiffy Lube for an oil change. Since Bright Light Books is now in the same plaza as Jiffy Lube, the girls wandered over there while I waited for my car. As usual, I had a lovely time at the auto shop.

A cute young man with bright eyes took my car and keys from me, and another sweet young man held the door for me to walk into the shop. While I sat in the waiting room, a boy with a red fro, earrings, and lots of tattoos came in, looked around awkwardly, and asked if anyone was in the bathroom. When I told him I didn't think so, he mumbled, "Well, I guess I'll go then," and disappeared. (Hehe) A moment later, I was called outside by a debonair black man, who explained everything they were going to do to my car.

Apparently I was way past due for an oil change, and he spent a while explaining the damage I was causing Mirabelle. [oops] Then he led me back inside, and while we waited for the cute young man with bright eyes to finish doing whatever he was doing, Darin (the debonair black man) asked me about my life. In the course of our conversation, I learned that he was a Christian, then listened with tears in my eyes as he told me his tragic "life story". It was a special conversation, one of those bright moments that bring total strangers together for a breath.

By the time his story was over, my car was all finished. As I paid, he told me that he would always pray for me; that meeting me had made his day. I don't know why I always dread taking my car in; every time I've been at the garage with Mirabelle, it's been a wonderful time!

Thank the Lord for Saturdays. :)