Ever get the feeling someone's looking out for you?

[ntrprnr 0]

So I bought a new bike. Weather's been too crappy to ride it.

Today, though, was gorgeous out. So I decided to have a go. Up the West Side Highway to the GW Bridge, and back. 12-13 miles or so. Not bad. Just to test it out.

Works beautifully. Really nice action on the pedals, I'm learning how to get in and out of the pedal locks on the shoes, etc... It's good.

Until I get a flat.

On 135th Street and the Hudson River.

I live about 4 miles from that.

I'm wearing bike shoes.

There are SO many better places to get a flat.

Now naturally, being a responsible rider, I have a spare tube and tools in the little pouch on the bike, as well as a pump. Sweet.

Except, I don't have a clue how to replace a tire on a bike. I was planning on going to the bike shop this Sunday to learn, and buy C02 cartridges, etc.

I take out the spare tube. I take out the tools. I take out the pump. I take look at the tire.

I spend ten minutes looking from the tire to the tube to the tools.

This gets me nowhere.

I gingerly turn a knob on the bike.

Nothing happens.

Like I'd expected the entire bike to magically fix itself from turning that knob.

Which, not surprisingly, it didn't.

It's getting dark.

I'm getting frustrated.

I can start and sell more than one company, I can write a book, and save my life while plummeting to earth at 120 miles an hour, but I can't change a fucking bike tire.

I look to the sky, and remember my Grandpa Dave. He died when I was about eight months old, but I've heard some amazing stories.

He was an engineer. He was one of the guys responsible for laying the groundwork for ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet.

He designed the lighting for JFK Airport. Or maybe LaGuardia. A big airport in the area, so it was one of those two.

Anyway, Grandpa Dave was really, really smart.

HE COULD HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO CHANGE A FREAKING BIKE TIRE ON THE SIDE OF THE WEST SIDE HIGHWAY.

Sadly, I was not Grandpa Dave.

I tried channeling him.

It didn't work.

I looked at the tools again, and tried channeling him.

Again, it didn't work.

After about five more minutes of unsuccessfully attempting to channel Grandpa Dave, I gave up and started walking my bike the long four miles home.

About a minute into this, a flashing light signals another biker coming towards me, on his way home.

With two full-of-air tires, I noted, frustratedly.

He stopped, though, and asked - "You need a hand?"

"You wouldn't know how to change a tire on a bike and feel like teaching me, would you?" I asked.

"Sure, I'd be happy to," he said. "It's good karma."

"Oh, dude, you have no idea how much I appreciate this. Thank you SO much. Here are all the tools, and the tube, and thank you thank you thank you. I'm Peter," I said.

"Hey, Peter," he said, extending a hand. My name's David."

Then, about 20 seconds later, he repeated the above sentence again, because I'd apparently been staring at him like an idiot while I tried to process that.

Within five minutes, I'd learned how to fix a flat, my bike was up and running, and David shook my hand and was on his way.

I rode home with a happy grin on my face.

Thank you, David.

And thank you, Grandpa Dave, for watching out for your sometimes-a-dumbass grandson.

_______________
"Why'd you track away at 7,000 feet?"
"Even in freefall, I have commitment issues."

[iamsam 0]

and so the world turns

that's a great story

but what do I know

[porpoishead 8]

damn dude, what planet did you grow up in???

if you want a friend feed any animal
Perry Farrell

[PhreeZone 20]

Its a pain to get the tube in there again, also look at carrying a bottle of slime. It'll patch a hole with in 10 minutes. I used to use it when I would bike.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[kbordson 8]

WONDERFUL tale!! I definately have someone looking over my shoulder and I thank him/her every day!

[Michele 1]

Great story, Peter. And thanks for sharing it tonight. Nothing like a reminder that things tend to work out...even when it's dark. And tell Grampa Dave I said Hi, and thanks.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[sharimcm 0]

Someone is definitely watching out for me.

I found that out in 1995 when I hit a deer and rolled my car at 2 in the morning on a long, dark, rarely traveled, country road. I saw headlights coming down the road, crawled out of my car, flagged down the driver, she took me home never to be found again or heard from again.

Grandpa Dave knew what to do for you. I think my Uncle Jay did the same for me.

"I had a dude tip his black cowboy hat to me after I provided him with a condom outside my hotel room at 3-something in the morning." -myself

[Mockingbird 0]

Definitely do!!! Just ask skydivermom or waltappel.

Good story.

Good storyteller, too!

Blue skies & happy jitters ~Mockingbird
"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

[nicolesheridan 0]

LOVE IT! Been having so many moments like this in my life lately too...something weird is going on with the universe :-)

________________________________________________

"People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But, the self is not something that one finds. It is something that one creates"- Thomas Szasz

[Icon134 0]

Sometimes I do... but most of the time I'm not sure...

Great story though peter as always...

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

[BIGUN 1,500]

Grandpa emmigrated from Sicily and joind the US Army serving in Panama in 1923. Came back and started a family on the lower east side. During the depression, he supported his family by hustling pool. He was good. The one they'd line up to beat. He passed away in 1972.

It's 1980 and I'm playing pool in a dive bar and about three games into it, there's 200 bucks (about two weeks of military pay) on the table and I've got three balls left. Tell the guy, I gotta go to the restroom. "OK Grandpa, I'm in a bit of shit here, Think you could help me out? Take a deep breath and go back out. I could just feel him, teaching me like when I was a kid. Don't look at this shot, look at the next one and setup the cue ball for the next shot. control your breathing... nice easy stroke with the right english... bam, bam, bam... Told my Mom about it the next day. Yup, he was with you.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[selbbub78 0]

Quote

So I bought a new bike. Weather's been too crappy to ride it.

Today, though, was gorgeous out. So I decided to have a go. Up the West Side Highway to the GW Bridge, and back. 12-13 miles or so. Not bad. Just to test it out.

Works beautifully. Really nice action on the pedals, I'm learning how to get in and out of the pedal locks on the shoes, etc... It's good.

Until I get a flat.

On 135th Street and the Hudson River.

I live about 4 miles from that.

I'm wearing bike shoes.

There are SO many better places to get a flat.

Now naturally, being a responsible rider, I have a spare tube and tools in the little pouch on the bike, as well as a pump. Sweet.

Except, I don't have a clue how to replace a tire on a bike. I was planning on going to the bike shop this Sunday to learn, and buy C02 cartridges, etc.

I take out the spare tube. I take out the tools. I take out the pump. I take look at the tire.

I spend ten minutes looking from the tire to the tube to the tools.

This gets me nowhere.

I gingerly turn a knob on the bike.

Nothing happens.

Like I'd expected the entire bike to magically fix itself from turning that knob.

Which, not surprisingly, it didn't.

It's getting dark.

I'm getting frustrated.

I can start and sell more than one company, I can write a book, and save my life while plummeting to earth at 120 miles an hour, but I can't change a fucking bike tire.

I look to the sky, and remember my Grandpa Dave. He died when I was about eight months old, but I've heard some amazing stories.

He was an engineer. He was one of the guys responsible for laying the groundwork for ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet.

He designed the lighting for JFK Airport. Or maybe LaGuardia. A big airport in the area, so it was one of those two.

Anyway, Grandpa Dave was really, really smart.

HE COULD HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO CHANGE A FREAKING BIKE TIRE ON THE SIDE OF THE WEST SIDE HIGHWAY.

Sadly, I was not Grandpa Dave.

I tried channeling him.

It didn't work.

I looked at the tools again, and tried channeling him.

Again, it didn't work.

After about five more minutes of unsuccessfully attempting to channel Grandpa Dave, I gave up and started walking my bike the long four miles home.

About a minute into this, a flashing light signals another biker coming towards me, on his way home.

With two full-of-air tires, I noted, frustratedly.

He stopped, though, and asked - "You need a hand?"

"You wouldn't know how to change a tire on a bike and feel like teaching me, would you?" I asked.

"Sure, I'd be happy to," he said. "It's good karma."

"Oh, dude, you have no idea how much I appreciate this. Thank you SO much. Here are all the tools, and the tube, and thank you thank you thank you. I'm Peter," I said.

"Hey, Peter," he said, extending a hand. My name's David."

Then, about 20 seconds later, he repeated the above sentence again, because I'd apparently been staring at him like an idiot while I tried to process that.

Within five minutes, I'd learned how to fix a flat, my bike was up and running, and David shook my hand and was on his way.

I rode home with a happy grin on my face.

Thank you, David.

And thank you, Grandpa Dave, for watching out for your sometimes-a-dumbass grandson.

Wow, great story. I definitely believe someone is watching out for me, and most of the time i need it, since I'm so stubburn... I'm glad someone is there. I've hads TONS of incidents like yours above, plus others were I could have been in real trouble, deathifing troube that i'm managed to make it out of and a positive ending in some shape, way or form. It's just too much of a coincidence to be anything else....

Thanks for sharing, and glad 'grandpa dave' was able to help you out!

CReW Skies,
bubbles

"Women fake orgasms - men fake whole relationships" – Sharon Stone
"The world is my dropzone" (wise crewdog quote)
"The light dims, until full darkness pierces into the world."-KDM

[swedishcelt 0]

Glad you're okay Mr.

[Lindsey 0]

My daddy looks out for me. Not in that cool supernatural kinda way (great story, btw), but he just helps out whenever I need him too. When I got a flat 3 miles from home, I called him just as he was getting out of church. He came in his truck and picked me up....lol.

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[Beerlight 0]

Great story, glad everything worked out. Watch out though or you'll start to compete with Michelle as the resident storyteller!

[Lindercles 0]

That sounds like the beginning to a gay porn story.

[pinkfairy 0]

You know, this is the kind of things we do, helping each other.

Nearly free in terms of time and money for the one helping and invaluable for the one getting help. Great system!



It is still very nice, and I can understand your feelings. a surprise like that can really brighten up your day.

I'm shure i'd stop and help you too. I'm quite good at changing tubes.

Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet.

I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

[matt1215 0]

Great story My brother died before I was born . Over the course of my life, I've regarded him as a guardian angel of sorts. Watching my back, like a big brother would

• Quote

[Snowwhite 0]

Yes I have! Thank God! And thank you for the great reminder!

skydiveTaylorville.org
freefallbeth@yahoo.com

[jtval 0]

usually the people who look out for me are getting out of my way because I had a sneezing fit while driving.


cool stroy though.

My photos

My Videos

[Muenkel 0]

Peter, excellent story. Thanks for sharing it.

I had a really strange experience. When I fell down the stairs and struck my head back in 2003, I had an out of body experience. It was nothing biblical and I'm sure it was some sort of an hallucination from the blow to my head. I was above myself looking down at my dead body. Here's the part I never told anyone about. When this happened I saw a little girl about 2 or 3 years old crouching over me stroking my head very gently. She was wearing a blue dress with white lace. She resembled my oldest sister when she was that age. I only know this from pictures I have seen from when my sister was that young. Now here's the kicker. Fast forward to last fall. My aunt and uncle were visiting from Florida. My aunt had surgery on her knee and it was still very painful. One night, we're sitting at my parent's kitchen table and my aunt says "Did you all know that you have a ghost in your house?" She went on to describe a little girl in a blue dress with white lace. She said she was a toddler and resembled my sister Nancy when she was that age. She said she woke in the middle of the night and saw her caressing her knee and the pain went away. My mouth dropped. I never told anyone about my experience.

You can start the Twilight Zone music now.

Chris

_________________________________________
Chris

[PWScottIV 0]

Quote

That sounds like the beginning to a gay porn story.

Gravity Waits for No One.

[Royd 0]

Quote

"Did you all know that you have a ghost in your house?" She went on to describe a little girl in a blue dress with white lace. She said she was a toddler and resembled my sister Nancy when she was that age. She said she woke in the middle of the night and saw her caressing her knee and the pain went away. My mouth dropped. I never told anyone about my experience.

You can start the Twilight Zone music now.

Goose bumps!

I believe it.