Meeting up with Ms. Hunter from Communities in Schools on arrival at KIPP Memphis @ Henry.
When was the last time you said to yourself, "wow, I needed that?" Today I did my normal bike commute with Brian, owner and operator of Frayser Bicycle, and his 3 boys... ages 2, 4, and 6. We met at Gooch Park to simulate the Bike Bus tour that is taking shape in the fall. I should be depressed. It's nothing like what it was supposed to be. The Bike Bus was supposed to be a big soiree into the work of bike commuting, something that would be a boon to our attendance initiative, to our relationship with Shelby County and Memphis City peeps; Communities in Schools.
See below for Exhibit A: The Route Plan
Friday, May 8th
8:30 @ Gooch Park, Jo Ann Street from Hug Parks words of encouragement
9:00a Depart from Gooch Park
10:00a Arrive @ Henry
10:15a Community Tabling (ie. Shelby County Health Dept, Frayser Bicycles, Hug Parks, etc)
11:00 High Schoolers Depart for KMCH
11:30 High Schoolers Arrive at KMCH
The map was made 2 years ago as a planning tool for students who had attendance issues (but were within reach) and had siblings in our system. I noticed that Groove covered a bunch and that we had a really nice biking corridor down Vollintine.
But I'm Not Depressed :)
Quite the opposite. I'm enthused! It's not what I wanted it to be, but it's very much what it was supposed to be. It was a beautiful morning. Brian was telling his boys, with the mist in the air, how much like Seattle it was; a haunt he hopes to take his wife and kids on soon. We always want to take our families to our old stomping grounds! It reminds us that we've stomped around, and it shows our families the same. It's a change of pace. My first big lesson on this anticlimactic "race" I'm describing.
Brian provided the tunes. Some worship music to lace the atmosphere. Normally I'm listening to an audiobook, but that's when I'm in my own head. Today was different. A group ride. It's chatty, communicative, and, in more ways than one, it's outside! Swap the monologue for dialogue.
Nothing too eventful. A chain came off the youngest rider's bike. Brian shared that he's only been riding with gears for a few months, so he's still getting the hang of it. Although both boys wanted to lead the pack, they were polite, especially the eldest, with sharing the burden of leadership. I got to use my new bike turn signal, which is dorky and appropriate at the same time. As we passed all of the landmarks, Brian got excited with the prospect of all we can do on this particular route. "We can hit the deli, 2 of them actually... that's the old synagogue... boys, we'll pass 2 elementaries and 2 community centers on the way to KIPP Memphis Elementary and Middle."
Departure from Gooch.
As we disembarked, we chatted with folks heading into KIPP Memphis to start their day. Took a few pictures. Brian saw someone he knew that he hadn't seen for a while. I talked to Ms. Green, who was thinking of bike commuting from her new home on North Parkway. She said she had a KIPPster that lived next door, a 5th grader moving onto 6th grade that she could invite. Before Brian departed to head back to Gooch with his boys, he said, "there's one thing I want to leave with you... keep this up... keep going... let's do another one, and another... build it up."
In my ear was ringing: despise not the day of small beginnings.
The most noteworthy interstellar guidebook of all time shares this wisdom. We will always do big things, and be a part of big things, but don't forget that sometimes (most times?) you have to start really small. The race is not given to the swift... but time happens to us all. Eccl 9:11.
If we are faithful in little things, we will also be trusted with much. Luke 16:10.
And, just think, what if the next time you say, "wow, I needed that" could be scheduled on the calendar?! Stay Tuned. Bike Commutes coming to a Midtown near you!
Heading down University St toward Vollintine. Lights. Camera. Action!
