My Illustrious Adventures with Various Outdoorsy Activities

I was barely a teenager when my dad taught me how to ride a bike. I had to be convinced. What finally got me to let him teach me was when he asked me if I wouldn't like to be able to ride a bike along the beach at sunset with a boy someday. So he taught me. The next day, my dad went out and bought 3 matching mountain bikes for our little family. I don't know that my mom ever even got on her bike-but no matter, my dad and I set out to conquer the world. He got me all outfitted up, helmet, bike shorts, you name it, and we hit the streets . . . and paths, and trails. Eventually, I took a long bike ride on the beach with a boy, and we got married. I had a new biking partner; only he didn't like to ride. So I rode alone some before giving my bike away. Then I bought a pedometer and started walking everywhere. (This is easy to do in my neighborhood) I walked to the grocery store, the clothing store, the bagel shop, the coffee shop, my best friend's house, the book store, everywhere. I graduated to jogging. This is the time that my year of running happened. 12 5ks in 12 months. Then I decided I would really like a kayak. My dad bought one for me and he bought a 2-person kayak for himself and my mom, and my mom enrolled us all in lessons. Another physical family activity-the typical, outdoorsy California family. We soon tired of kayaking (it's a lot of work!), and my dad sold his 2-person kayak, and bought himself a 1-person kayak, which he then gave to Mr. M. Mr. M even used it once or twice, as did my sister when the opportunity arose. After my love for kayaking faded, my dad and I decided to get recumbent trikes. After buying the trikes, we immediately joined a club and rode regularly with them. Somehow or other, my dad lost his trike or it was stolen, and I had stopped riding, so I gave him mine. Mr. M and I were outside last night, making a little mini-patio for Rufus, when I looked in our little shed and saw the two nice kayaks there, gathering dust. I have a very outdoorsy friend who just got married to an outdoorsy man, so Mr. M and I decided, after a 3-second conversation, that we should give them the kayaks. I know I will still have visiting rights, plus, my friend lives close to a lake so we can go out together. As for me, I am really excited about a new pair of shoes I found in San Francisco, and I have taken up jogging again. Plus, it gives me a great excuse to walk to the coffee shop, and I have found walking to be a very sociable activity. The circle of life. I use a toy for a while and then give it to someone else to use; and I document it all so that I can look back and write about it on my blog. I'm off now. If you happen to go to outer space and see a bright orange pair of shoes going for a walk down on earth, that'll be me.