Tricycle to the Heavens


FlyingTricycle, originally uploaded by carolsLittleWorld.

The other day somebody said to me, “it looks like a kid drew that,” in reference to some drawing we were discussing. I always sort of laugh a bit when I hear somebody say that. Kids, you see, are the best artists around. They draw, they paint, they’re not afraid to get their fingers dirty, they have no preconceived notions about how something is “supposed to look” or how much it would sell given the current economic climate and gallery trends. When they want to draw, they pick-up a crayon, when they want to paint, they pick-up a brush. Oh, to be a child again, that’s what I say.

Children are very colorful and creative. They get to be. Nobody’s told them yet that they “look fat in that” or that the particular color they want to wear today is “out of fashion.” They don’t worry about fashion, they just sort of sprint though life. Their “oh, I’m going to make a fool of myself yet again” sensors have not even been developed yet.

Kids today have a lot of cool toys too. Have you seen those sneakers (ok, track shoes if you must) that have blinking LED lights on them and sort of light up as kids run and play in them? I want a pair of those. They really should make those for adults-they look like fun. They didn’t have those when I was a child but, boy, I sure wish they did.

Children enjoy the slowest form of transportation around-the tricycle. It’s slow, it’s outdated, it doesn’t get very far, and it’s even hard to operate. But, they love it. They get out there, with their blinking track shoes and push themselves around the drive like you’ve never seen. I want to do that too-I want to push myself on a tricycle-hey, it’s better than a morning commute in Austin traffic. They don’t have stoplights, and annoying radio DJs, drive through Starbucks, or yuppies in BMW’s who think they are important cutting them off in traffic. Children just push and go, go and push, until they reach the end of the drive. When they get there, when they get to the end of that drive, in their own little minds, they’ve reached the heavens, they own the drive. I want to be like that. I want to own my own drive once again, don’t you?

Yes, I want to be a kid again. To take my crayon stained fingers and my blinking shoes, push my own weight as inefficiently as I can on a silly tricycle all the way to the end of the drive, get there, stop, look up, and realize that I’ve reached the heavens.

Trike me to the heavens! I say. And, if you should happen to ask me if your photos look like a kid took them, I’ll turn to you and say, “no, not really.They aren’t good at all. But, you know, you shouldn’t really ask me, I’m actually a grumpy old photographer in disguise….”

Until next time…

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3 Comments

  1. mythopolis
    Author
    March 30, 2009 / 4:22 pm

    Good post! : ) In L.A. a friend and I went to visit his aunt who was in a fancy assisted living community called “Leisure World”. It was fenced and walled in…but once inside there were lovely grounds with winding asphalt paths, and lots of small brick duplexes or quads.. Out side of these were parked large tricycles with baskets on the handlebars. The trikes had sprockets and chain to the rear axle, however, rather than just pedals for the front wheel. It was fun walking along with my friend’s aunt on her trike taking us on a tour and introducing us to her gray-haired,or blue-haired, or bald friends! : ) So make a note…for your second childhood!

  2. Carol
    Author
    April 1, 2009 / 12:54 pm

    Tricycles at nursing homes? Wow. Who would have thought they’d be able to do that. “Leisure World” it is.

    Kind of almost sounds like “Wally World” from National Lampoon’s Vacation movie, doesn’t it? “Quick, let’s all pack our bags so we can go punch a tricycle in the face.”

    What’s that you say? “You don’t want to see the second largest ball of twine on the face of the earth, which is only four short hours away?”

    Meh. Sure. Be that way. :~)

  3. mythopolis
    Author
    April 1, 2009 / 5:34 pm

    Well, not actually a nursing home but an assisted living community…old folks there are generally higher functioning and able to care for themselves. Meanwhile, check out http://www.brandscycle.com/AdultTricycles

    For some cool 3 wheel toys for grown-ups!

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