The Ride On This Beautiful Summer Evening

It was one of those days.
Honey needed some rest
but I was in need of some exercise
and gazing at something beautiful.
At that very juncture, the text came.
The timing was perfect.
And my husband was ever so happy
to have a friend invite me over
to go out for a bike ride.
You see, this friend had always tried
to be helpful since she knew me
before I was married.
There was the help in practical ways
and much needed guidance
in so many different things.
Always trying to loosen me up
to be a better wife and person.
I’m not sure at the course life
would have taken without her.
Tonight’s invite invoked a
“I like that Roeleta”
from my husband and that,
made me smile.

He promptly went out
and helped get the tandem bike ready,
loaded it into car and sent a tool
to adjust the seat for this friend
who is only slightly shorter than me.
Driving the road I love to her home
through Amish countryside,
my heart couldn’t smile enough
thinking about the beautiful eve.

Tried to untighten the bolt
to release seat but  it was too hard.
Walked bike to her neighbors
who invited us to join their family
for cookout. We politely declined.
He was sweet and adjusted seat

and we got on and were off -

slightly off-balance and wobbly.

We laughed at our first attempt 

to sync our riding together.

Thankfully friend lives near trail
and we made our way there.
Figuring out the two gears
and getting them to switch.
She is so good at figuring out things.
And patient enough to see it through.

The trail from that point on
was a good couple miles
as we rode through town
and past the amazing Krider Garden.
Then onto bridge passing not one,
but two ice-cream places.
Once past the second one,
the trail was six miles long
until it ended near the downtown
of the city of Shipshewana.

How delightful to see this trail
and ride it for the first time!
Most of the trail was through woods
and grateful for the shade of trees
to keep us cool and shaded.

Indiana countryside is just gorgeous
and no matter where I’ve been,
I still feel there is nothing like
Amish country and open spaces
and the pastures of horses grazing
in the stream of the evening sunshine.
Amish people are so sweet
as many pass by us on our way.

Legs beginning to feel like jello
as we head back around.
Laughing about how sore we’ll be
tomorrow.
Feeling hip bones much too keenly
from seats wide but unpadded.
It was fun to ride the tandem.
We could converse throughout the way.
I could hear her well
and she could hear me.
Couple of little chipmunks
must have run out on trail and were hit.

Grateful for ice-cream stop
on the way back.
Friend had never been there before.
Legs needing a leg-break.
Hobbling about like old people.
Her Aunt and cousins there as well.
Good to meet some of her family.
Ride back by the gardens
and remark at the beauty hidden here.

Uphill spots make us groan by now
and laughter too because both of us
whining with these old bodies of ours.
We are close in age
and there is the understanding of life
that comes with all of these years
under our belt.
We’ve shared so much history,
her and I.

We’ve seen each other in our youth
been to each other’s weddings,
and watched each other raising our kids.
We’ve been through some stuff
and been there and listened.
Friendships like these are truly
a special gift.
And I thank God for her.
If we are patient enough
while we continue forward,
there is the sweet reward
of the side by side
and the becoming more like family.
I love how that kind of thing evolves.

Friend, thank you for the ride,

the laughter, the listening,
and the evening adventure.
The freshly-picked mint mojitos
and the relaxing while watching
the sun go down.
Love the beauty of God doing His thing
in us as we grow older.
I love who you’ve become
and look forward to more years
of adventure and friendship.