Saturday, July 27, 2013

Death on Denial


Too many of my compatriots spend their golden years polishing sports cars to a high shine in the hope of attracting attractive women who are not their wives.  While that is not a sanctioned trophy wife hunting strategy,  it is tolerated by the the incumbents solely because it gets the old duffer out of the house.  Mostly it's a harmless, yet expensive diversion.

I, on the other hand, am not trophy hunting and keep Camilla moderately dirty, so to spare my bride the ignominy of having a husband hanging around the house afternoons, I have chosen a close relative to assisted suicide.  I bought a bike.  My wife thinks I've gone mad.

Her questioning was predictable.  My rejoined not so much.  We have lived within a mile of our current apartment for the past 17 years.  We like it here.  Our new home is three blocks away. We know the neighborhood.  Best of all, compared to the house in the woods, the new place is on flat ground, on once upon a time river bottom land, once the most fertile land in the state.


Where do geezers go anyway?  From our new home:  The library-2 blocks.  Ye olde coffee shop-3 blocks.  Post office- 4 blocks, Grocery store- 200 yards.  Doc in the Box 100 yards.  For this I want a car?
.  

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Toad, you moved/downsized? Kudos on getting the bike...and keeping Camilla. Hope you kept the BMW wagon as well...and the BMW convertible. I'll buy if you want to sell either of the BMWs.

Toad said...

Very generous of you, but for now the menagerie stays. I've fallen in love with the wagon.

Brohammas said...

I endorse the bike but for your sake; remember to un-tuck your pant leg from your sock while browsing in the library and note that black dress socks and shiny brown dress shoes (or sport sandals) worn with shorts are not appropriate cycling attire.

Toad said...

Pshaw!

Shelley said...

Well done, Toad! Currently on a three-week house-sitting mission for 2nd cousin in Nice; it's a tough life. Living in Britain and spending a fair amount of time in France the last few years, I can tell you that some of the most distinguished-looking senior citizens in this part of the world toddle around on a bicycle. You'll be in good company (so long as the car drivers mind their manners).

Bebe said...

Is Camilla your wife, or is that the name you have given to your car? Either way it sounds like you have a happy home life.
An ill-chosen biking outfit could change that however...

Gary K. said...

I concur with you, Toad. We just moved to a small town where virtually everything we need and want is within a few blocks of our house. Even my office is no more than a 3-minute bike ride. I picked up a 2001 Raleigh R700 for a fraction of its 2001 MSRP of $1200+, and I love it, and I'm getting great exercise.

Jane Kilpatrick Schott said...

You go...I get my big tired "Conch Cruiser" out at least three time a week to check things out. Rock on Toad!

Clara Walmsley said...

My darling has just purchased an electric bike. I'm a nervous wreck about him driving around New Orleans on this vehicle with no airbags, but he loves it, so what's a girl to do.

BTW, I've been working on a new blog if you thought that perhaps I'd disappeared, assuming you remember me at all. :)