Scooter Joy

I woke up to a sky of robins egg blue. 

 "That's it, I'm riding the scooter today!" 

The thing is, in winter a cloudless sky means cold temps.  A sunny day in Corbett means wind.  After dressing myself up in several layers I headed out the door.  Only I couldn't find my glasses.  They aren't just any old sun glasses.  The fit my face perfectly and they have these awesome yellow tinted lenses that block ALL glare and sun.  I wear them indoors sometimes because flourescent lights hurt my eyes.  I had a pair of these that Nick received as a sample from a vendor.  They are the most perfect sunglasses I have ever owned. 

I dropped them one day at the airport and someone picked them up within minutes and claimed them for their own. 

Dang. 

 This past summer Nick insisted on stopping by his clients in gresham to buy me another pair.  It was really important to him and it took a lot of effort.  I knew at the time that this was a big moment.  That he wanted to do this for me because- as he said many times last year- he could.  We purchased the $185.00 sunglasses and I felt loved.  So this morning when I couldn't find them anywhere, I panicked. My brother Kenny is here and he saved the day by loaning a pair of tinted safety glasses he owns.  They worked fairly well, but my heart was heavy.  I can't expalin the sentimental value my glasses have for me.  They are a symbol of Nick's love and just how he cared for us in so many quiet ways.  To lose them felt like losing part of Nick. I had to leave for work and couldn't look any further-so off I went in the substitute pair.

I. freaking. love. my. scooter. 

The cool thing about Nick was that he loved it for me.  Every morning he would stand outside the front of the house and watch me ride away.  Smiling, making some comment about his 'hot wife'  : ) 

I would always call Nick when I got to the airport to let him know I arrived safely and I would tell him about my ride- what I saw- how good the river smelled, all of it

. 

Halfway there today I realized, he wasn't there to call.

Today or ever.

I cried most of the way in. 

 I enjoyed the ride on this beautiful morning(Thank you God) but it was bittersweet.  Much like the beautiful blue sky that comes with the price of the very cold air, and the sunny day, tempered by the east wind.  Beauty and sadness filled my heart on this day.

I got home, parked it in the garage, hopeful that many more scooter days are in store this summer.   Tonight I said 'Nick, if you can hear me up there, tell me where those glasses are'.  I found them.

My beauty.  Thank you dear husband.