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| The A to Z Geniuses |
When one of
our loved ones (adult, fully capable, with some common sense) sets out on a lengthy trip, we pray. We hope for safety. We try not to think about all the what-ifs.
When our son "Victor" returned from two week biking in Germany and Switzerland, he told of one of the what-ifs.
“I mis-judged this part of the Alps. And the ascent, how steep it was. Then
it started raining, a hard cold rain that nearly blew my poncho off. By the time I reached the summit, my thighs
were knotted and cramping.
I was
freezing, I started doing exercises, flapping my arms, anything to keep
warm. A few energy bars in the saddle
bag, but not enough to refuel. My map
app showed how far it was to the next town.
It wasn’t that far, maybe twenty miles.
It was a
slick downhill ride. Rain in my face,
soaked me to the skin. Dark sky, no
moon, just my bike lights to show me ten feet ahead. Cold, bitter cold. Shivering so hard that handlebars vibrated.
Then lights
ahead, a hotel. Started crying, so
relieved. Pulled on the door handle and
found it was locked. Closed for the night.
Pounded on the door. Any one
there?
Then the
door opened. A woman about my mom’s age,
rounded and hands on hips. She said
something in German. Then she grabbed
and pulled me inside.
She acted
just my mom. Didn’t understand her, but
she put me in a room with towels and a hot shower, so nice, down the hall. Putting my gear near the heater, heard her
calling.
Like Mom,
for sure. Sit down here! Eat! Eat more! And then she probably said something like
this: WHAT did you THINK you were DOING?!
I fell into
the best bed in the world and slept hard. There was a huge breakfast waiting
for me, and a bag of bratwurst and cheese.
Plus some more mom-words.
I don’t know
what I would have done if she hadn’t opened that door. If she hadn’t been so….kind.
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| After a 60 mile jaunt |
338 words
