Family Dynamics!

One of the most intriguing aspects of family dynamics is observing children as they grow and slowly witnessing the child(s) adaptation of parental eccentricities and personality peccadilloes.   One such incident this morning made such comparisons blatantly obvious. 

For the first time in several weeks, we actually got out of the house on time!  Quite a feet, given my propensity for sleeping in, and the children for dragging their collective feet.  Not to mention the monumental task of getting the older boys to roll out of bed at a respectable rate.  Usually this requires raised voices and the application of the ever useful plastic Whiffle ball bat!  But this morning, up by quarter after seven, dressed, coffee made and tentatively sipping on the steaming hot cup of motivation everyone rolled out on cue with little prompting.  Further aided by the realization that they may have an opportunity to have a full breakfast with their friends, the younger ones became more motivated.  Of course Elijah's false start, resulted in him drifting over sideways, asleep on the couch.  DEPLOY WHIFFLE BAT!!!  Thankfully it only takes the familiar "thump, thump" on the back of the couch to rise him from his impromptu slumber!  Diapers changed, and all necessary blockades in place to restrain an overly inquisitive Miranda from getting into TO much trouble, the prerequisite mega re-peat movie in the player and all was right with the world.

Thinking I had a few moments to enjoy the remainder of my coffee, I sat at the table only to find my erroneous assumption ill conceived.  Once dressed and back packs in place, the elementary kids began drifting out the front door, unannounced.  Reluctantly handing the ample remains to Elijah I accepted the inevitable and headed out as well.  Now sufficiently early, we took to the streets with the traditional "SIDE OF THE ROAD!" and "TOO CLOSE!"  etc. etc.

Our preordained route takes us out of our neighborhood, then a straight shot to the school.  On this particular morning as we reached the end of our subdivision we came upon a gaggle of their friends also on their way in.  Of course, they drifted to our side of the road and in no time I found myself the chaperon for a group of eight at this point.  As we were riding along (me in the far back, allowing them the time to jabber and me the distance to drone it out) the group paused before a young boy sitting by the side of the road.

I'll pause here for the sad revelation of this young man.  On the outskirts of our neighborhood sits a pleasant looking, unassuming house.  To the uninitiated it would appear as just another family home, but in reality, it's a half way house for "At risk, runaway teens".  This young man does not seem to qualify though, as he is roughly the same age as Logan.  As he is out every morning to meet his ride to school, at the elementary time frame, I can only assume that assessment is correct.  He has a palpable air of solemnness, unfortunate in one so young.  It has always been an unfathomable mystery to me how ANY parent could see fit to harm, neglect or abandon a child.   Especially one so blatantly innocent. 

As I approached the halted gathering, I noticed the young man was performing a magic trick for his rapt audience.  And this is where the evident similarities to Angela and I in our children, became apparent.  Angela is a true believer in all things supernatural and mystic.  An innocence I, at times, envy.  Rozy and Logan take after their mother in this respect.  They were visibly awed at the young mans  display of magical prowess.  Owen, taking after me, the skeptical analytical type, was quick to figure out the true nature of the illusion and even quicker to call him out on it.  I'll explain.  Anyone of our readers who has ever spent a lazy day perusing a book on "beginners magic" or had the good fortune to own a "Magic Wiggle Worm" knows this one.  You attach a thin piece of thread to a small light object (in this case a piece of paper folded into a square).  Attach the thread around one finger, leave some slack, and drape it over the other hand, held above the object.  As you slowly pull your two hands apart the object appears to "magically" float between your two hands.  Rozy, Logan and the rest were dumbstruck, in gloriously innocent glee over this amazing display of his gravity defying powers.  Owen was not so easily bamboozled and impressively called him on it.  He has been surprising me lately with his apparent capacity for creative thinking and quick mind.  But I have to give the young magician his props.  As Owen questioned his ability, the young man, unflinchingly stalwart in his convictions, took his lower hand and waved it under his other.  It was quite impressive!  He did it in such a way as to APPEAR as if it was going directly under the other, passing directly over the levitating object, while in fact, from where my vantage point was concerned, I could see he quite expertly avoided the string!  It was professional in it's execution!  And as Owen stood, reticent in his skepticism the young man closed his hands around the object and said, with a twinge of finality, "TA DA!"

Owen, not willing to acquiesces, demanded he do it again, but the young man, unperturbed, in a sly, sarcastic tone looked him right in the eye and stated "I said....TA DA"

MARVELOUS!!!  I think we discovered the next Criss Angel!! 

Needless to say it's all the kids had to talk about the rest of the way to school!

ANYWAY!

Yesterday was, blissfully, more of the same!  Busy little bee with repairs (briefly interrupted as I had a parent teacher conference to attend) and managed to put out an excellent riding and even more impressively looking classic Raleigh Mountain Bike!!  SAH-WEEEET!!!  ALSO, took in one heck of a sweet consignment piece yesterday!!  This one is a 2011 Trailmate 3- wheeler that spent the majority of it's time under a tarp!  They bought it 3 years ago and paid $563.00 at one of those "other" bike shops in town (yes, we have the receipt!) and ended up riding it only a handful of time.  And believe me, it shows!  Nary a blemish on it and it still has the excess rubber mold on the tires! Got a gorgeous ladie 26" single speed cruiser as well for all those ladies dying to get their hands on one!   Had many a looky loos in, just wish I had more to show!  Did end up with a "should have gotten it while you were here" story!  Gentlemen came in earlier in the day, looking for a sturdy single speed, cheap.  He checked out the BCA men's Big Boy we had, road tested it, and liked it.  Now, we here at Re-cycle love to engage in the "Art of the Deal".  Our motto is "the only thing written in stone is the Ten Commandments" so we are more then willing to dicker.  BUT, something has to be said for displaying a modicum of dignity in your dealings.  The bikes we put out are priced to reflect what we put into them.  Sure, we make a profit.  We're in business, and without it we'd be on the street in no time.  BUT, we ain't looking to get rich.  With that in mind, when we put out a bike, we DON'T jack up the price so as to appear to give a great discount when we sell it for a few bucks off.  We don't like games.  But if a ride is out at say, ninety bucks, and we have someone who offers us, say eighty we take it into consideration.  But when someone looks at a classic BCA cruiser, MADE in FREAKIN AMERICA....TOO LAST, and gives us a dismissive suck of his teeth and offers us SIXTY!?  Well?  At that point I want to jack the price up to $150.00!  But no, I didn't.  I politely turned down his offer and countered with $80.  He mulled it over then stated he had other places to check, and was sure he could find what he wanted cheaper.  I bid him good luck and he left.  And as always, as if a gift from karma for dealing with the crotchety, a young gent happened in looking for the same type of bike.  After a test drive, he admitted his love for the bike, but wanted to think on it for a wee bit, as he had originally came in search for a bike for his girlfriend.  He departed, obviously to assuage the guilt associated with potentially buying something for himself, only to return a short time later having fully convinced himself it was OK to pamper his own desires, and take advantage of a great deal.  No sooner had he loaded it up and left, did the first gentlemen return in his wake.  Walking into the store with slightly less swagger (obviously having discovered that his erroneous assumption regarding bicycle prices was misguided) and stated "I'll take it for $80."  Now mind you I took NO self righteous, vindicated pleasure in having to inform him the bike had just sold, for full price, to the gentlemen who just left. 

No...really...absolutely NO pleasure!

ANYWAY!

As the day has gotten going, more repairs are meandering in so I'd best get at it! 

OH, and BY THE WAY!!!  Today is the LAST day for both our "tenth purchase free" event and our "10% Off Service Special"!  So get on down here and take advantage while we are doe eyed and vulnerable!  That' right "Go fer the sweet spot!"

SEE YA SOON!!