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Winter is Over

MacKenzie and Momma
It has been 11 months since I got back on a bike after 10 months of recuperating from an accident on Bessie1. Today marked another milestone since that accident; I got my daughter back on Bessie2 with me!  She has always liked riding with her Momma! I was reluctant for two obvious reasons: 1.) I have lacked confidence in my skills since the accident, 2.) After such an accident, I realize first-hand, what can happen when mistakes are made. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her while we were on the bike. My daughter’s confidence in her Momma never wavered however and today was the day.

Blue sky, sunshine, warm temps....just enough ‘cool’ in the breeze we both needed jackets, but not heavy leather. Winter is over. I pulled Bessie2 to the end of the drive and made her practice getting on and off so I could get a feel for the weight again. Its not easy riding ‘two up.’ Bessie 2 is bigger, wider, taller, and heavier than Bessie1 and adding another person shifts the center of gravity. After a few practice mount/dismounts...I said ‘lets ride!’ We pulled out of the drive and it felt good, it felt very good to have my girl on the back again!  We cruised out to Cherry Pocket where lots of other bikers had the same idea; enjoyed the view of the lake and a cool drink. Then I got it in my head I wanted strawberry shortcake from Brandon Farms....so we headed across 60...and darn, what a gorgeous day! 

Thirty years in the South and I still miss that clear cut line of when one season ends and another begins. “Up North,” we always knew Winter was nearing the end when the snow melted, the ground thawed out then turned to mush, a delicate green shoot pokes through the dirt in the flower bed, and the robins start to appear around the bird feeder. I’ve had to look for different ‘signs’ here in Florida because the weather is pretty much constant year round...Hot, Hotter, and Broil. 

The beginning of strawberry season in Florida marks the end of Winter. Once or twice in the last three decades, I’ve seen the strawberry crop ruined because ‘winter’ wasn’t finished yet with its near-freezing temps, but its a safe bet that when the berries are on....Summer is on its way. We don’t really do Spring.

Mac and I gulped some of that flavored oxygen as we traveled west on 60; air so thick with the smell of orange blossoms you swear you could just open your mouth and let the taste of it rush in. Then we hit Hillsborough county and the strawberry fields, the sweet, fragrant smell of the berries....’Mom, it smells like candy!’  The strawberry stand was packed; just a dirt drive off the asphalt where the strawberry field ends. There is fresh berries, oranges, honey, and a few vegetables for sale. And look at the line for strawberry shortcake!  We patiently wait, debating on whether or not to have the ‘half,’ or the ‘whole.’  My daughter looks at me and says, ‘Duh, the whole.’  I have to agree, the Duggar Girls never go ‘halfway’ with anything....I’ll have mine with ice cream AND whipped cream (75 cents extra, but worth it).  We choose a table, take photos (thats important right?!), and dig in....then I realized my daughter had not been on the ‘strawberry ride’ before and we were experiencing a Mother/Daughter first!


I have come full circle with my Bessie2....having my favorite ‘fender candy’ on the back for our Sunday rides is a good thing. The only thing missing was my partner Paul; I know we were with each other in spirit today as we rode in separate states....soon, very soon. 

"You only live once; but if you do it right, once is enough."  ~ Mae West

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