We lived in the boonies. I was in kindergarten.

We had horses and trees to climb. We had a duck pond and a creek to play in but that wasn’t enough. I wanted a bike. We had a long driveway and nice flat area in front of the house to ride. Never mind that I couldn’t take it on the road because it was a drivers ignored the speed limit on their back road to the freeway. I needed a bike.

bike in snowIt was a rare snowy December. I remember riding that Huffy up and down the driveway. Straining against the snow that went up to the chain. I didn’t need training wheels because falling in the snow was funny.

By the time the snow melted a few days later, I was an old pro to bike riding. That bike stuck with me for several years, through two moves. It eventually went to my little brother and then to my sister. I don’t know where it is now, but when ever I see a kid riding a tattered black bike I smile.

snowbike photo courtesy raaphorst on flickr / CC BY 2.0

This is my weekly challenge post for {w}rite of passage.

Today’s challenge: The Gift. Write about the Christmas Gift you remember the most. Why? Who was it from? Where were you? What is the significance of it?

Read my friend’s memories in the links below.