Shadowriding with My Favorite Girl
Before she was a fully realized thought in my belly, my daughter has been riding along with me.
It has been some time since she’s been perched on the pillion seat of my Tiger, usually opting instead to take the Queen’s seat in the sidecar of the Ural. As we prepped ourselves to head out for an evening en plein air I asked her if she wanted to take the Tiger or the Ural. To my surprise she opted for the Triumph.
There are moments in parenthood where you recognize the growth of your child seemingly all at once. My now teenage daughter has grown up overnight. We stand eye to eye, her long curly hair, dyed blue, flags in the wind. I have come to realize that she is just like me. The me that I was as a teenage girl, only better.
While we cut down the road, I caught glimpses of our shadow riding along side of us. Her pony tail waving in the wind behind her is burned into my mind. Deep imaginings of us touring together have started to take root. It’s just about that time…
when she was little…
Aw, sweet post. A Mama and her girl. They grow up way too fast. It will be fun taking her on some longer adventures.
Nice post Fuzzy! We are at the crossroads as well, Scooterpie Jr is old enough to get her license and is working on it. I am hoping we will go riding together soon on a road trip. Where does the time go? I certainly can’t figure it out, it has whizzed by.
As adults, we know this, and I imagine that it’s especially acute for loving parents, but for most kids, it’s just life… Until they might realize down the road that, as cliche as it can sound, such moments really ARE priceless.
I’ll tell ya’, Fuzzy, if your kiddo doesn’t already regard you as a badass motorbikin’ mama (and, frankly, I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t), it’s almost certain that she will in the future. May y’all enjoy a lifetime of shared rides and irreplaceable memories.
Though with the passage of time the trappings of living may come and go, memories–for good AND bad–can be your constant companion.
Hang on – to your loved ones…
Hold on – to your memories…
Write on – about your experiences…
Ride on…
Right on!
Enjoy it. I speak from personal experience. Thank you for this post.