judifilksign (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
judifilksign) wrote2011-06-23 09:43 pm
judifilksign) wrote2011-06-23 09:43 pm
One-and-Twenty, and brakes
The brakes on my van have been slowly leaking brake fluid, and we've been topping it off, trying to stave off the repair bill until the car is paid for at the end of July. The light indicator would turn on every 2-3 weeks. Last week, it turned on again, and we filled it up. Today, the light shone again. The brakes got scarily mushy while I was driving with J, after our swimming, and we got an auto place to top it off again for me.
J, who was a bit white around her mouth, gently lectured me. Frightened, I listened. Repairing brakes would be sooner rather than later. I got Sparkle from her school, and was driving on the highway towards home, and the light came on again. On the thing we'd just filled an hour before. A truck cut me off, and the brakes went all the way to the floor, and I was filled with terror. Pumping the brakes, there was enough pressure regained that we slowed. But that was it for taking any more risk. I bailed at the next exit, where a friend of mine lives just off the highway. I pulled up in front of her house, and called my DH to come get us, because we weren't going any further.
We called the tow truck, and it took my van to the place we've gone for longer than I've been with my husband. Bill, the owner of Ernie's Brake and Auto was called, to warn him of the van's arrival. We'll find out the estimate tomorrow, I think. My friends gave me Tylenol, blueberries and water, and did not hug me at my request, so that I could keep it together until all arrangements were made.
(D? J? You do not have to say "I told you so;" I have learnt my lesson.)
I had my DH drive home, and my headache got worse. He ended taking Sparkle to the YMCA, while I lay down in a dark room.
After supper, my DH asked me gently whether I wanted to continue riding tonight, or leave it until tomorrow. I elected to ride, since it was nice and cool. Sparkle got her Dora Twin Babies, and we rode. It was really hard again today. I just felt wiped.
This ride was the ride of the bunnies. There were bunnies in the path, bunnies along the fields, bunnies on the rail road track, bunnies on the road, bunnies under the Grumpy Old Troll Bridge, bunnies along the fence line weaving in and out, I mean there were BUNNIES everywhere! I could see three to five bunnies at a time along every stretch of our ride, except when they'd all suddenly disappear, and I'd see a hawk glide along the length of the trail. Bunnies do thump to warn of raptors, but not for bike riders. They'd freeze as we went past. Sparkle seemed oblivious to them tonight.
I wanted to turn around at the first road, but Sparkle begged to "Keep going, Mamma. Please? To the Troll Bridge? Por Favor?" and I gripped the handlebars and kept going. My arms ached, and I felt trembly, and my head hurt, but I kept going for that sweet voice that was trilling happy sounds, saying thank you and "You can DO it!"
I got to hear myself make those tired, moaning sounds again going uphill toward the bridge. Sparkle was pretty non-stop in her encouragements, and sang happily as we rattled over her bridge.
At the second road, we turned around, and looked at the western sky. There were gold, white, and pink clouds, and the sun played peek-a-boo behind some lavender ones, sending sun rays like a Picture Bible shining down on the saints. Off to the south, the clouds and sky under them were a deep, rosy pink, with purple rain coming down and shadowing the west.
Sparkle took a quick sip of water, but handed it back to me and told me to drink more, because we had to pedal pedal a long way home. I asked her if she was sure she did not want more. I said, "I'm tired!"
Sparkle replied, "I'm tired, too. Mommy is too tired. Thanks for trying!" I'm not sure whether Sparkle was trying to be cute, or just managed it accidentally.
We rattled back over the Grumpy Old Troll Bridge, and Sparkle made me do the Grumpy Old Troll voice. On the episodes, Dora must answer a riddle before they can cross. I asked, in Grumpy Old Troll voice, "Why are we doing this?" which launched Sparkle into the Map Song, complete with landmarks. "And that's how we get to the witch's castle."
There are several houses that are just on the other side of the rail road tracks, which have folks that have been out every afternoon and evening doing gardening. We have now gone past enough that they recognize us, and smile and wave.
Coming back, there was a gorgeous red-golden setter. It looked like a cross between an Irish Setter and an English one. It was nosing along the path without anyone near. I warned Sparkle that it might bark, and moved our bike to the opposite side of the trail as we passed. Unlike every other dog we've met so far on our bike, this one was unconcerned. It gave us a big doggy smile as we passed, and jumped up and ran down the path the way we'd come with a wiggle and wagging of a tail. Sparkle wanted to stop and pet the puppy, but I said no, and we kept going home.
The fireflies were out as we rolled down the last hill toward home, and Sparkle made happy sounds as she saw them. Right as we were pedaling hard to get to our driveway, a little boy on a bike rounded the curve, and screamed as he saw us.
"Bike! Bike people! I can't stop I can't steer don't hit me AAAAAAH!" and zipped in front of us as I put on the brakes, squealing. And he popped in front of us, and there was no crash. I saw an adult riding behind the boy, yelling for him to pedal backwards, and we were in our driveway, and I was shaking because this miss brought up all the feelings of the near-disaster of earlier today.
Sparkle was unfazed. If I weren't alcoholic, I'd say I could use a drink after a day like today. Heh. 21. I'm for a soak in the tub and then goodnight.
J, who was a bit white around her mouth, gently lectured me. Frightened, I listened. Repairing brakes would be sooner rather than later. I got Sparkle from her school, and was driving on the highway towards home, and the light came on again. On the thing we'd just filled an hour before. A truck cut me off, and the brakes went all the way to the floor, and I was filled with terror. Pumping the brakes, there was enough pressure regained that we slowed. But that was it for taking any more risk. I bailed at the next exit, where a friend of mine lives just off the highway. I pulled up in front of her house, and called my DH to come get us, because we weren't going any further.
We called the tow truck, and it took my van to the place we've gone for longer than I've been with my husband. Bill, the owner of Ernie's Brake and Auto was called, to warn him of the van's arrival. We'll find out the estimate tomorrow, I think. My friends gave me Tylenol, blueberries and water, and did not hug me at my request, so that I could keep it together until all arrangements were made.
(D? J? You do not have to say "I told you so;" I have learnt my lesson.)
I had my DH drive home, and my headache got worse. He ended taking Sparkle to the YMCA, while I lay down in a dark room.
After supper, my DH asked me gently whether I wanted to continue riding tonight, or leave it until tomorrow. I elected to ride, since it was nice and cool. Sparkle got her Dora Twin Babies, and we rode. It was really hard again today. I just felt wiped.
This ride was the ride of the bunnies. There were bunnies in the path, bunnies along the fields, bunnies on the rail road track, bunnies on the road, bunnies under the Grumpy Old Troll Bridge, bunnies along the fence line weaving in and out, I mean there were BUNNIES everywhere! I could see three to five bunnies at a time along every stretch of our ride, except when they'd all suddenly disappear, and I'd see a hawk glide along the length of the trail. Bunnies do thump to warn of raptors, but not for bike riders. They'd freeze as we went past. Sparkle seemed oblivious to them tonight.
I wanted to turn around at the first road, but Sparkle begged to "Keep going, Mamma. Please? To the Troll Bridge? Por Favor?" and I gripped the handlebars and kept going. My arms ached, and I felt trembly, and my head hurt, but I kept going for that sweet voice that was trilling happy sounds, saying thank you and "You can DO it!"
I got to hear myself make those tired, moaning sounds again going uphill toward the bridge. Sparkle was pretty non-stop in her encouragements, and sang happily as we rattled over her bridge.
At the second road, we turned around, and looked at the western sky. There were gold, white, and pink clouds, and the sun played peek-a-boo behind some lavender ones, sending sun rays like a Picture Bible shining down on the saints. Off to the south, the clouds and sky under them were a deep, rosy pink, with purple rain coming down and shadowing the west.
Sparkle took a quick sip of water, but handed it back to me and told me to drink more, because we had to pedal pedal a long way home. I asked her if she was sure she did not want more. I said, "I'm tired!"
Sparkle replied, "I'm tired, too. Mommy is too tired. Thanks for trying!" I'm not sure whether Sparkle was trying to be cute, or just managed it accidentally.
We rattled back over the Grumpy Old Troll Bridge, and Sparkle made me do the Grumpy Old Troll voice. On the episodes, Dora must answer a riddle before they can cross. I asked, in Grumpy Old Troll voice, "Why are we doing this?" which launched Sparkle into the Map Song, complete with landmarks. "And that's how we get to the witch's castle."
There are several houses that are just on the other side of the rail road tracks, which have folks that have been out every afternoon and evening doing gardening. We have now gone past enough that they recognize us, and smile and wave.
Coming back, there was a gorgeous red-golden setter. It looked like a cross between an Irish Setter and an English one. It was nosing along the path without anyone near. I warned Sparkle that it might bark, and moved our bike to the opposite side of the trail as we passed. Unlike every other dog we've met so far on our bike, this one was unconcerned. It gave us a big doggy smile as we passed, and jumped up and ran down the path the way we'd come with a wiggle and wagging of a tail. Sparkle wanted to stop and pet the puppy, but I said no, and we kept going home.
The fireflies were out as we rolled down the last hill toward home, and Sparkle made happy sounds as she saw them. Right as we were pedaling hard to get to our driveway, a little boy on a bike rounded the curve, and screamed as he saw us.
"Bike! Bike people! I can't stop I can't steer don't hit me AAAAAAH!" and zipped in front of us as I put on the brakes, squealing. And he popped in front of us, and there was no crash. I saw an adult riding behind the boy, yelling for him to pedal backwards, and we were in our driveway, and I was shaking because this miss brought up all the feelings of the near-disaster of earlier today.
Sparkle was unfazed. If I weren't alcoholic, I'd say I could use a drink after a day like today. Heh. 21. I'm for a soak in the tub and then goodnight.