Southwestern University is the home of the Pirates and the Pirate Bike. These bikes are posted all over campus waiting for students to climb aboard and pedal to their destination. The idea is that they will then park the bike where they left off so that it will be available for the next student who needs a lift.
The semester is nearly half finished leaving me stunned by how quickly Daughter #2′s freshman year is going by. Meanwhile, Daughter #1 was recently measured for her graduation robe and mortar board.
Life is a little like those bikes. It feels like just yesterday the first daughter hopped on for her ride and now it is nearly time for her to lay that bike down and let the next person take their turn.
Enjoy your ride, girls. May you thrill at the freedom that comes of choosing your path and propelling yourself forward through your own efforts. As the wind blows through your hair and you pass through the beauty of campus, revel in the joy of these fleeting moments.
When the time arrives to put the bike aside it will be because you are ready to travel by other means to new and wonderful places.
Pirate bikes…my Simple Moment.
Yep – and then you get to our age (my age at least) and love to pick up the bike again. No impact – good aerobic exercise – add a basket and some baguettes, cheese, salami, grapes and you have the makings of a great afternoon. Now if it would just quit snowing…..
Oh, a picnic on a grassy slope. That does sound good.
I watched my oldest walk down the aisle last year….and the youngest is in the first semester of his sr. year. What you’ve written in so beautifully expressed – full of confidence and hope…and just the right hint of nostalgia!
Ha! That may be because I edited out a touch of the nostalgia it was steeped in!
Oh! How idyllic. And I adore the metaphor as well. Just perfect.
Thanks for sharing, May!
I think these Pirate bikes are the neatest idea and I love that they can pull it off without the bikes riding away never to be seen again!
Ah, I love this and agree, what a fantastic idea…I can imagine this working at UCSB, or in Santa Barbara as a whole because it is such a bike town. By the way, your writing is beautiful and I look forward to reading your blog.
Thanks, Lina. I love finding photos of your sweet little ones on your blog too!
I agree with Alita what a perfect metaphor! It’s like that with so many ages isn’t it? The oldest moves on and the younger one just grows up to fill in their place, pick up where they left off.
Something you get to see first hand everyday. And it all goes so fast! That photo you had of your little girl’s legs and feet a week or so made me long for the days when my kids were that size!
Oh lovely! Congrats to both your daughters!
Seems we are all growing older! lol