Can a Bike Teach You About Love?

It must have been fate. When my "boyfriend" canceled out on me again yesterday, I found myself perusing the craigslist classified section, looking for something, anything, that would take the blues away. Let me note that I usually am not one to partake in shopping therapy. It's not that I don't appreciate beautiful things. It's just that it's always been more satisfying to create something with my own bare hands, be it paint a picture, cook delicious foods, or sew something practical. It's been years since I've owned a bike. The last bike I bought was in college. And if you know the UC Berkeley campus at all, you'll know that it can be quite hilly in some places. I chose an impractical bike. A 3-speed schwinn cruiser, metallic blue. It was the closest bike I could find that matched my vision of the ideal bike. My ideal was based primarily from watching Ingmar Bergman films. A bike with fenders, old school, with a basket in front. I went to the bike section because I couldn't find a decent moped. What I found in the bike section, was this beautiful masterpiece. It's a 3-speed Swedish make bike like the ones made for the army in WWII. This cream colored Kronan has a light in the front and back, a built-in tire pump, a rack in the back, and the beautiful, beautiful basket in front. Dare I say, I fell in love? The woman who sold it to me let me test ride it. I realized that this was a practically all-steel bike. A heavy 46 pounder. And since I live upstairs, I'd have to lug it up the stairs and down. It's made for the average Swede which is, I presume, taller than your average Asian female. And last of its faults, it's only got 3-gears. Hills are going to be hard. Fortunately, I live pretty much in the flats now. But it's going to take a couple of rides around the block to see if it's too much for me to handle. Half-way through test riding it. I called my sister (aka: the voice of reason.) I explained the pros and cons. And realized that this bike was a metaphor for my romantic relationships. I'm deeply in love. yes. But is the relationship practical? no. My stubborn streak always wins out though in the end. I always follow my heart. I bought the bike. And was so exhausted after riding it home and carrying it up the stairs that I had to take a nap for 3 hours and rest my weary body. Will it make me a stronger person in the end? You bet. I can already feel muscles growing.