Not Quite Like the Movies...

Sometimes I tend to forget that life isn’t quite like the movies. Yesterday over our lunch break I was a little foolish and a little adventurous. It makes for a pretty funny story, so I thought I'd share...

It was absolutely beautiful outside, so Nick, Eric and I decided to eat lunch at the park with Eric’s family. Nick rode his bike and before we reluctantly headed back to work, he drove it up for Eric's boys to see. He let the boys sit on it, and as I sat there watching, my wild Susan voice said “You should try and ride that bike right now, what do you have to lose?” I think the pictures of how cute Kate Hudson was in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days went through my mind, and I had to give it a try.

So I was jumped up and said, “Nick, I want to try and ride it.” I could see Eric's paranoia kick into gear as he asked if I was sure and Nick took off his helmet for me to put on. I figured that I’ve done the four wheeler it can’t be that much harder...and I had no intentions of leaving the parking lot. So I put on the helmet...after two attempts, I got my hair adjusted correctly in it so I could actually see. I sat down on the bike for a crash course in the clutch, accelerator, and brakes while Eric & Michelle made sure they were a safe distance away from me and their kids were safely in the car.

Nick told me what to do, and I took a deep breath and started to let up on the clutch and accelerate ever so slightly....it was pretty much just like Kate Hudson in the movie...I started to pop a bit of a wheeley, curved both ways a bit and then straightened it out. So then I was "speeding" down the parking lot at what had to be at least 7 mph and thinking, "I rock. I am so driving this motorcycle." :-) So arrogant me thinks, “Heck, I’m gonna turn this puppy around and drive back to them.”

Not my smartest idea in the world.

It all went well until I accidentally accelerated to fast and came within inches of hitting a red SUV before I braked and simultaneously went crashing to the ground with the bike falling on top of me. Next thing I knew I was laying on the ground, thankful for the helmet, laughing and wondering how the heck you turn the bike off. I wish I could have seen the faces on the countless moms who froze in the park to see what just happened. Eric and Nick said they all had these hilarious, perplexed looks on their faces as if they were wondering what on earth that girl laying on the ground was doing trying to ride a motorcycle. Let's just say that if we had thought to video it, I think I'd have a lot of YouTube hits right now.

So back to me on the ground under the bike....Nick came and helped me up and showed me where the off switch was. Thankfully the bike is fine. I just scratched up my foot a bit...flip flops probably aren’t the best riding shoes, fyi. And I smacked the ground on my shoulder kinda hard...it is still a bit sore today. My story didn't quite end up like the movie, but hey, a few bruises and a cut are a small price to pay for a good laugh and "falling story," right?


Picture of the bike pre-park.