Wheels

Jeanette Smith

March 2016

Little ones start out with four wheels on their buggies, then 4 wheels on their baby walkers and strollers. Strollers don’t work in the mountains, a wagon with wooden sides and pillows works much better. Then 3 wheels on a tricycle. Then the two wheels of a bicycle.

My sons had two bad accidents on their high handlebar. They ran into a big chain link obstruction in the driveway to the old Elementary School. Joe’s nose was broken and Jim landed in the hospital, with a concussion.

Then Mark washed dishes at the Branding Iron on Main Street. It is no longer there.

Vivian, the owner, would call and say “Send Mark down, the sink is full!” I’d yell at Mark “Viv needs you” and Mark would get on his bike at 411 West First Street and take off flying down the dirt road. He looked both ways at the intersection of Highway 119, and flew through to the restaurant. He would jump off his bike and Viv would look at him in disbelief and ask “How did you get here so quick, I just hung up the phone from calling your mom”.

Bikes progressed to motorcycles. They built their own. They spent more time working on them then driving them. That was okay with me.

Then they progressed to pickup trucks. That’s what they still drive today.