Like a kid before Christmas

Remember back as a kid once Thanksgiving Day (in the USA this is designated the fourth Thursday of November) had passed? Yeah, the next stop was Christmas. It was finally almost Christmas. It was just around the corner! But oh how the days in school passed so slowly. Torture it was. There was the slowly building excitement as, unlike today, the radio stations only started playing Christmas music after Thanksgiving. Perhaps a week later, but not before Thanksgiving, the Christmas tree was found, put up, and decorated. Christmas lights were put up and by the second week in December all was ready and a few packages might even start to appear under the tree.

Yeah. You remember it well. And that last week? Well, it could have been another year until Christmas as time almost stood still!

For the past few years Groundhog Day has been like Thanksgiving for me. Winter is finally half over and the lengthening days mean that riding season will be here in a few weeks. Unlike Christmas to which the days can be counted, that first ride of the season isn't precisely known in advance. Like the time leading up to Christmas, my interest slowly turns back toward bikes. I start checking out the various Web sites I've been absent from for months. I dig the magazines back out of the pile and catch back up on some moto reading. I start thinking about projects and maintenance that should be done this coming season.

So, yeah, right now I feel a bit like a kid again stuck somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm reading the sites and the mags just like I pored over the toy sections of the "wish book" catalogs from Sears, JC Penny, and Montgomery Ward.

The bikes are still in patient hibernation. The tanks and carbs were drained long ago and the batteries pulled being fed by a battery tender on and off through the winter. Right now the ground lays covered in snow and I suspect it will be a few more weeks before we get several days of those warm breezes and hot sun. You know the ones that are simply irresistable (no snide comments from you CA or southern guys) and hint that spring is here even though the calendar and common sense say that winter isn't quite over yet. But nevermind! Rush home from work, go get some fresh gas, check those tires over, the oil level, the chain looks good, drop in the battery and fire it up and get a ride!

Yeah. It's only a few weeks before Christmas is here.

Very Nice Nate! Great parallels.

Bill

Post edited by: KZCSI, at: 2008/02/08 21:26

Fair enough, NONB....but add about 1 month to your projected riding time of "warm breezes and hot sun" for us guys in the Great White North. Yes, spring WILL come to us too.....it just takes a little longer. Nice writin' though.....

that was beautiful. Couldnt have said it better myself

Very well said! SoCal boy here keeping mouth shut!! :whistle:

Thanks, guys.

It was just something that formed in my head the other evening and I had to get it out. :laugh: Since it's written from a 40th parallel perspective, those in other climates will just have to mentally adjust the time line to fit their local area!

That was nice Nate.
I never did put mine away for hibernation. I've been going out once every week or so and at least starting her up. But every once in a while, it'll get up above 40, and I'll take her for a little spin. Not too far, just a quick spin down the road and back. Just long enough to get the motor up to temp. My wife accuses me of having quickies with my girlfriend.
Whatever. :whistle:

I'm not going to make a snide remark. Its hard but I'm not going to do it. Instead I'm going to go take a nice long ride.