What is in front of you is often the most important.
I learned this lesson while riding my human powered “Rad Scoot” scooter. Today you might see the Rad Scoot in a BMX museum or perhaps buried in the back of a garage somewhere. This scooter is a relic of the 80’s, sporting florescent aqua colored paint with white tires and sweet handle grips. Like a ten speed bicycle, the Rad Scoot features quality breaks front and back and bold tube style tires.
Today’s scooters are wimpy in comparison as they try to combine inline skates with a skateboard, at best. The Rad Scoot is an engineered mobile transportation solution, crafted with kick, punch, and Rad-ness. Elitist, in that it was only available at finer punk rock bike shops.
Well, I had one of these fine scooters, don’t ask me how, as my parents were not rich or excessively Rad. I kicked my way all around our small town. To the connivence store for candy, coasting down long hills for grins and off dirt jumps to prove I was worthy. Of course I shared, but only as a way to deepen the lust in my friends eyes. I was Rad!
One sunny afternoon, a few neighbor girls noticed me sailing around the block and being Rad. As I remember, they called out, “Hey Ezra, you’re so Rad!” Suddenly the curb, then the handle bars, followed by trauma to my young, but permanent front tooth.
Before this moment, I planned to head home and enjoy a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, three or four Oreo cookies and a glass of milk. After, however, I was crying my way home, more upset by the change of lunch plans then the thought of dental work.
Today I have a metal rebar type rod connecting the jagged real tooth base to a well disguised fake. Before the rebar dental work, I lost the fake tooth cap eating a gummy bear at the movies. Currently I am waiting for this tooth version to become detached at just the wrong moment.
When you’re sailing on a Rad Scoot look out for curbs.
