Monday, June 30, 2008

C-o-o-l R-i-d-e-r

I have this strange propensity to trust people with my personal safety. I say it’s strange because my mother is probably the most paranoid person I’ve ever met in my entire life. Which means I was raised in a house of
For the Love of God, Don’t Get on an Airplane
, Keep the Door Deadbolted if You Don’t Recognize the Face in the Peephole, and You Can’t Go Hiking Alonea Mountain Lion Will Eat You! (Okay now that I read those, I realize each scenario involves me doing something solo, so maybe it’s not such a surprise that I blindly follow others and just believe they’re going to lay down their lives to save me from danger.)

Yesterday, Mr. Wonderful and I were browsing through the newspaper over breakfast burritos when he said, “Do you want to go for a ride up to Lake Hollywood today?” I nodded lazily, picturing a relaxing drive with the sunroof open.

But Mr. W wasn’t talking about a car trip. He was talking motorcycle.

I grew up in a family that rode ATVs, and my college boyfriend had a dirt bike. But I had never been on a street bike in my life. And although the thought of passengering one scared me a bit, I didn’t hesitate in the slightest to hop on the back of Mr. W’s Suzuki DRZ 400. I had absolute faith that he would do everything in his power to keep me from becoming helmet-clad roadkill.

It was about eleven o’clock when we accelerated down his street, winding through the Hollywood hills. The sky was baby blue, people in convertibles were taking Sunday cruises, walkers and joggers were out in their spandexy finest. I couldn’t help but smile at it all.

I had never seen Lake Hollywood before—heck, until a few years ago, I didn’t even know Hollywood had a lake—so it was quite a treat to look out over the deep blue-green water with sagebrush and eucalyptus scents wafting into my helmet and Mr. W’s abs clenched tightly under my palms.

We passed a grassy dog park filled with prancing people and smiling canines, then Mr. W took me down to a secluded little spot where the deer tend to hang out. We did not see any…I think they’re all in his backyard eating his strawberry bushes.

When Batman, err Mr. W, asked if I was up for going the long way home through Griffith Park, I said, “of course!” Because even though I was wearing only a tank top and jeans, and my giant helmet was knocking against my tiny pea head, I had no doubt that Mr. W would keep the pristine beauty of the day intact and return me unscathed to his garage. And he did. And I’ll probably ride with him again. Even if my mom tells me not to.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

It sounds like a lovely day! Maybe he'll let you drive it next time? Don't tell your mom.

Michael C said...

Sounds like fun! Hollywood has a lake? Really? Are there corpses in it??

JustRun said...

How fun!

Sometimes I just tell my mom about these things I've done to see her get all riled up. I'm mean.

Anonymous said...

i didn't know Hollywood had a lake...and, come to think of it...i didn't know Mr. W has a motorcycle...sounds like a fun day!

Alysha said...

How fun! I love being a passenger, but haven't reached the point to where I trust myself to drive! Glad your Sunday afternoon was fabulous!

Sizzle said...

I love riding on a motorcycle!

Anonymous said...

As I'll never own one, I have to ask: do women ever get over the motorcycle thing?

Sounds like a much better Sunday than mine, which involved mostly running errands and (are you sitting down?) cleaning! LOL

Diz said...

I have to say that just imagining you riding on the back of Mr. W's cycle w/ the huge helmet on knocking your little peanut head back and forth makes me giggle. I'm so proud of you! Sounds like a great time =0)

Anonymous said...

So it really didn't matter if you were raised to be safe and cautious, better words than "paranoid". You still do it,
have fun, and hopefully toss a little caution into it too!

Nilsa S. said...

One of the best afternoons in my life was spent on a scooter, tootling through town. I'd imagine being on a motorcycle would be much the same, only faster. :-)

Melissa Maris said...

Dingo - It was a lovely day. I think I'll pass on the driving though. Pretty sure I'd pile us into a brick wall or a faux celebrity.

Michael C - I think most of the corpses are in that pond in Echo Park, but they may be one or two in Lake Hollywood.

JustRun - It's the MOST fun to tell our moms that stuff though! Riling brings great joy to my heart.

Laura - Mr. W is an international man of mystery. He has his pilot's license too.

Alysha - Thanks! And thanks for getting my Sunday off to a good start in Runyon.

Sizzle - Thanks for stopping by! It was SO much fun. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy it.

Geekhiker - I was never really under the motorcycle thing...wait that's not right. :P I mean I never thought that was some hot thing - and you'd never guess Mr. W had one if you met him. Doesn't seem the type.

Diz - Yes, the giant helmet was pretty darn funny. I kept smashing against his back and apologizing. :)

AMOMymous - Yes, of course I meant safe and cautious. Because going into a drive-through car wash can be VERY dangerous.

Nilsa - That sounds great! I actually liked the slower parts better, so a scooter would be right up my alley (pardon the pun. :)