Early morning at the elder Stapes house....

Reading the paper in bed I said to Art, " You know that I've been so tired this week that I haven't had the energy to work out. Maybe we should try the club this morning.
"Naw, let's go on a short bike ride instead," Art responded.

Well Art's interpretation of a "short" bike ride and mine are always different. Short for me would be a 20 min. ride through the houses, for him it would be only half way around Aurora Res. instead of the whole way if thats possible.

"I know let's ride up to King Sooper, I need beef broth for my roasts," Art said.

" Hmmm, well okay, I could probably make it." I responded.

20 mins later, tires pumped, water in hand I usually forget the water,bike lock, and reusable shopping bag, we were off.

"Go ahead I will follow you," I shouted to Art above the roar of the traffic.
He didn't respond just kept riding.

BBZZBBZZ, "oops, I have a text message," we stop at the library. "Oh its Joanne, I'll text her later."
Art smiles gets back on his bike and heads down a side street.

"You know Jon and I used to ride bikes down here sometimes," he said.
We are twisting and turning through the houses, and I'm thinking I hope he is taking the short route.

RRRRIIINNGG>.... My phone is buried in my pocket. As I fumbled to get to it I wondered, Maybe I should wait, but then again it could be important I thought.

"Heh, its me, what are you doing," said my sister Dianne.
"Riding my bike," I responded.

"Oh, well I"m going to call Dee, Moms friend, how many paselles do we want her to make?"
" I don't care you decide," I responded, " gotta go."
CLICK......

Art looked over his shoulder, "You are not keeping up sweetie."
"Don't worry, I'm right behind you going my own pace." I responded.

I wonder if he is taking the long way I thought . Where the heck are we?

"Jon and I used to play ball in that park," Art said.
" Suddenly I recognize where I am. I know, are you missing Jon today?"
" Yea, I am," Art responded.

Art made a short turn onto a rocky, water filled ,pot holed path.
What is he doingI thought.
"AAAArrt, where are we....as I started to complain I looked up and we were there,
I would have been more loving if I had known that we were so close.
"You are the man," I said.
"I know," he says with a smile as he put the lock on our bikes.

RRRRIINGGG......"Where are you?" said Dianne
"In the grocery store."
"What are you doing there?"
"Shopping we rode our bikes up here."

"I just talked to Dee, did you know that her and mom used to have fun when they were kids? They were best friends even then, anyway she is going to make 10 dozen passels for us. She is bringing a basket to put them in. She is going to make it a gift for mom."

"Hmmmm, that is cool," I said as I made my way outside to find a place to sit down. "Well okay, I'll let you get back to your ride," said Di.

Art came out with groceries, "I saved a nickel because I have my reusable bag with me," he said. "We need to put them in the car."

"Lets go the short way home," I said.

"Well, I thought we would go to the car wash and wash these puppies."

"What the bikes?" I asked in shock. "Well, yea yours is covered with cobwebs."

"I hope I can make it,"I started to lament.

"Aw, come on sweetie gird up your loins," Art said. Right then,it was like a light went on in my head.
"You know that is one of my favorite things to say to the boys,"I told him, "especially when they are slacking."

"yea, well gird up those lovely loins, and follow me." he responded. What a jokester.

We were cruising down the hill at a good clip when my phone rang again. Fumbling around trying not to fall off I fairly shouted,
" Hello"

"Where are you?" asked Dianne.

"Still riding my bike," I say as lightly as I could.

"Why are you doing that?" she asked.

"I don't know I guess I"m trying to get healthy or something." and it really isn't easy having to answer my phone every 5 mins. :)

okay, I wanted to say that but I didn't of course.

"HMMM well I wanted to let you know that I'm going to call Nola now," Di said.

I composed myself as I watched Art wash the bikes in the car wash. "That is the cleanest they've been in years," I remarked. "Yep, looking good," said Art.

"But my seat is wet now." I said. "Yea well it will cool off your xo!#xm! We are almost home now sweetie pie." He is so cute I thought to myself, he is always making up new words.

We decided to go through the houses because it was shorter.Taking the lead , before Art changed his mind, I cruised through the green light with the red hand as I heard Art shout, "What are you doing?" When my phone rang again.

Nearly falling off my bike, good thing I was through the intersections I grabbed the phone and without looking I shouted into the phone, "IS THIS A JOKE?" "NOW WHAT?"

"Well is this a joke?" I heard someone say loudly back, Oops, "Who is this?" I asked.

"Des I just wanted you to know that I finally worked out this morning, and I feel so good. What are you doing?"

"Don't ask I will call you back in a minute," I said to her," I'm glad you are feeling better, and I'm sorry I shouted at you."

I went around our corner as Art caught up with me."You could have been killed," Art said "You never go through a light with a red hand."

"Whatever, we made it."I said as I heaved a HUGE sigh of relief.

" Yea well,I knew you could do it babyleg," Art said smiling.