What Was I Thinking?!

Ben had to work late tonight and so we didn't get home until close to 9:00 p.m. I still had to exercise, but I also had to run to Walmart for a few things I didn't get with the rest of the grocery shopping earlier today. While pondering how to get it all done, I had the bright idea to ride my new bike to Walmart - it's less than 3 miles away. And it's sidewalk all the way, so it's not like I'd be on the road and I have the bike trailer and so I could just put those few groceries in there and I'd be back in no time and wasn't this such a good idea to kill two birds with one stone?

No. It wasn't.


Top 10 Reasons NOT to Ride Your Bike to Wal-Mart After 9:00 at Night

1. It is really hard to see the sidewalk (or anything in front of you) when you have a bunch of bright headlights coming towards you on one side. And it's not like the sidewalks all run straight around here. Lots of unexpected turning - no idea why.

2. No matter the time of day, mothers are physically incapable of not browsing while at Walmart if unaccompanied by children of any sort. This will turn your "quick trip" into an hour-long stay.

3. By the time you get home (almost 2 hours later) you will be full of adreneline and unable to go straight to bed. Therefore, you will feel the need to blog about your temporary insanity and be up much later than is good for you.

4. There really aren't that many reputable people out after 10:00 at night.

5. If your trip to Walmart involves crossing train tracks, the chances of the train passing at night are pretty good which would then require you to stand still with your bike and other goods while trying not to hyperventilate at how vulnerable you feel while standing immobile and alone after dark waiting for the train to pass on by.

6. Six miles really is a long way to ride on a bike.

7. Even though there are no children in the bike trailer, there is bound to be at least several other moms out there who drive by and see you and think you are endangering your child by riding around with them on a bike after dark and are completely appalled at your assumed behavior. Although this is not bad for you directly, it's passing on some really bad karma to the other moms.

8. Trees and cobwebs. This is somewhat related to #1 (it's too dark to see clearly).

9. Your husband has to stay up late till you get home to make sure you survive the trip.

10. Husbands have long memories about the most inconvenient things, and are therefore highly likely to remind you of your folly at some future date while engaged in a discussion about another one of your "bright" ideas.