smiles...

one of the biggest enjoyments i get out of riding is seeing kids... the awe in their eyes as you ride by or the smiles on their faces as you wave back to them. it's funny when their parents are trying to nonchalantly get them to look away from the biker and you keep smiling and waving back at the kids.

whenever i get a chance, i smile, wave back or talk to the kids. last night, i had parked in a spot and was putting my helmet and gloves in my tour-pak when a car pulled up in the spot next to me. the dad was driving and mom and little boy were in the back seat. the boy must have been about two - i should know these things because i have a toddler, but i am absolutely terrible at telling ages. so we'll just agree he was in the two year old range. from the time he saw the bike, the little kid couldn't take his eyes off the bike. dad gets out and i give a friendly, hi, how are you, greeting. he says something back. after mom and dad get kid out of the car, the come walking by the bike so kid can get a closer look. about this time i'm starting to walk away. i can see the kid's excitement as he's looking at the bike. so i ask dad if he thinks kid would like to touch the bike. i had thought about offering to sit on the bike, but with the hot pipes and lawsuit happy people in this world, i figured it would be better not to offer the sit. so kid touches the bike and gets a huge smile on his face. then i ask him if he's going to own a bike on days - he shakes his head yes....

okay - so it might be goofy, but seeing the look on a kids face when you smile or wave at them is a really good feeling... and i guess i do it for myself as much as for them.