In my wonderings I had occasion to reflect on the music that
I enjoy. If I had to choose a song that would most describe my middle teen
years it would be ‘Thick as a brick’ by Jethro Tull. Why you may ask…. Well
lean closer and read.
When I was about 14 or 15 years of age I was blessed to have
some very good friends in my life. They saw me through some hard times and
accepted me for the person I was. We had a lot of fun together and that is what
I remember the most. The Friday packing my school bag with clothes for the week
end and having no place for any school books. So guess what remained at home.
The weekend started after second break, which is when I bunked the last two
classes and left for my friend’s house. He stayed about 500 meters down the
steep Sibelius Street.
His parents would never know how many kids would be spending
the weekend at their home. All were welcome and all were loved. Thank you Uncle
Dave and Aunty Rita!
How many times was the old blue and white Opel station wagon
pushed out of the gate in the middle of the night and driven around by underage
children????? Plenty. Were we caught by the parents??? Sometimes…. “Put the car back and go to sleep!”
was the cry.
There was the time an old tandem bicycle was purchased.
Picture a dilapidated bike built for two. A carrier behind the back seat, back
brakes operated by the person at the back pulling on the brake cable as there
was no handle in front, and no front brake. How many children did it carry? As many
as could fit.
Coming back to the very steep Sibelius Street. To my
recollection at least a vertical drop…or there about. On top of the hill…one
tandem…one child in front.. steering. One at the back with another on his
shoulders. One on the carrier, whose sole duty was to pull the back brake cable…….
and one sitting on the handlebars in front to enjoy the ride.
Unlike today there was no traffic light at the bottom of the
hill. Only a lonely stop sign preventing the traffic from crossing the busy
intersection. But it was a Sunday morning….and all were sleeping late except
for us, the children.
“AALLL ABOARD!” My job …pull the brake before we get to the
stop street. Away we went ,laughing and having fun. Picking up speed. Half way….
Three quarter way…pull brakes NOW! Ping!!!!
No more brake and right through the intersection we went.
As you are reading
this …we did survive.
Another day…another story and another adventure.
