I was driving my car the other day, and I happened to pass a couple of boys driving their bikes down the sidewalks. Where they were coming from and where they were going, I have no idea. But a thought occurred to me - they have the ultimate freedom.
When you turn 16, the only thing you can think about is getting your license and finally having the freedom to drive a car. But that freedom also brings with it a certain level of responsibility. Now, you can run errands for your parents. Now, you can get a job. Now you can drive your little brother to soccer practice.
As you get older it only gets worse. Where was I driving from the other day? The grocery store. Before that I came from work. So I got to drive over an hour to sit in an office all day then drive to buy food, drive home, and cook dinner.
Adulthood sometimes brings with it a complete lack of freedom. For those kids on the bikes it's more than likely the exact opposite. I remember back when I was a kid. I used my bike to go meet my friends and play whatever sport was in season. Or, I would just drive it and listen to my walkman, thinking I was exercising. Sometimes, we drove our bikes for no reason at all - just to drive them.
I can see how appealing it must be for guys to get a motorcycle and go off with a bunch of your friends. It brings you back to that time of ultimate freedom, but at the same time - for most of those guys at least - you still going to have to get up and go to work the next day.
Sometimes I dream about being back just for one day, before I had my license, before I had a job, before I had bills, before I was married and with a mortgage. Just me, some friends, and our bikes.
The ultimate freedom.
Labels: thoughts
