Boy on a Bike

Hello and welcome to a sunny Saturday here at the Wannaskan Almanac. Today is July 24th and it is so good to see some blue sky after weeks of haze.

Big news at our house this past week is the soon-to-be First Grader learned how to ride a bike. Yes, while mom (me) was gone last weekend, the Oldest (the biggest of the sisters) took charge and brought the kid up to speed. Pour his own milk. Check. Set the table by himself. Check. Brush his teeth by himself. Check. Ride a bike. Check.

The older kids often tell us how we've gone soft on their younger siblings and after the successful result of last weekend, I can kind of see their point. I mean, the youngest is about to turn six. It really is high time he learns to tie his shoes, right? Maybe if I go away for another weekend, the Oldest can check that off the list, too.

All week the kid has been practicing his balancing and riding skills while biking the neighborhood loop. "Momentum, mom," he says, "you forgot to tell me that part. That's why I couldn't ride a bike before. You forgot to say momentum."

Noted, buddy.

To celebrate the milestone, we pulled the tagalong out of the garage. We've had it since the Third Grader was four or five years old, however, I'm sorry to say, we couldn't quite get the hang of it and so it sat unused. But this weekend we have friends visiting who are avid bikers and, feeling encouraged, decided to give the tagalong another go.

The Youngest had a difficult time getting on board with our enthusiasm. In fact, he flatly refused to embark on the tagalong adventure and protested loudly. I even had to chase him down. Feeling the extra pressure of the Oldest's cynical stares from the window, I doubled my resolve and chased the little fella until I caught him, buckled his helmet, and sent him on his way before he could hop off.

It was wobbly at first, but once they established enough momentum, he and his father were on their way. Off the crew went to town for some groceries. (I stayed home.) It was windy but sunny and not nearly as humid as earlier in the week. Mom (me) may have promised him a treat from Caribou Coffee, another sign I'm slipping in my old age - promising sugary drinks to my children in order to get them to do things - but, honestly, at this point, I'm not above using whatever grease works to take care of that squeaky wheel so we can get on with the program and get on our way.

When everyone returned from the shopping expedition, the Youngest stomped into the house, disappointed to have not gotten the Caribou treat after all (dad told him no), yet satisfied that he had successfully navigated his maiden bike voyage to town and back, just like the big kids. We'll keep building his biking skills on the neighborhood loop, but I bet it won't take long before his sister decides to take matters into her own hands (again) and takes him on his first real two-wheeled solo journey.

Check.

 

On This Day

Historic Highlights (credits)

2013 - Santiago de Compostela derailment

A high-speed train traveling from Madrid to Ferrol derailed on a curve killing 79 people and injuring over 100.

1977 - The 4-day long Libyan-Egyptian War comes to an end

The border war began with thousands of Libyans marching towards Egypt's borders.

1959 - Kitchen debate between Nixon and Khrushchev

A series of debates, now popularly called the kitchen debates, occurred between U.S. President Nixon and Soviet Premier Khrushchev in Moscow. Nixon was visiting a house built as part of an exhibit in the American National Exhibition.

1923 - The Treaty of Lausanne is signed between Turkey and the countries that formed the Allied Powers in the First World War

Under the treaty, Turkey had to give up all the territorial claims made by the Ottoman Empire and agree to new borders.

1911 - Rediscovery of Machu Picchu

The 15th century, largely forgotten Inca site in Peru was rediscovered by American Hiram Bingham III.

Happy Birthday to You!🎶 

1969 - Jennifer Lopez, American actress, singer, dancer, businesswoman

1900 - Zelda Fitzgerald, American author

1897 - Amelia Earhart, American pilot, author

1802 - Alexandre Dumas, French writer

1783 - Simón Bolívar, Venezuelan commander

Remembering You

2012 - Robert Ledley, American scientist; invented the full-body CT scanner

2012 - John Atta Mills, Ghanaian politician, 3rd President of Ghana

2010 - Alex Higgins, Irish snooker player

1980 - Peter Sellers, English film actor, comedian, singer

1862 - Martin Van Buren, American politician, 8th President of the United States

Keep pedaling and make it a great Saturday!

Kim