I rode out to the base this morning to do a lil light shopping for mission-essential stuff. Not much on the list (coffee, half and half, nicotine gum), so... given the weather was in a cooperative state (light wind, high 60s ~ low 70s), the day and the mission were tailor-made for the bike. A great day for a ride.
There was a time, Gentle Reader, when YrHmblScrb and his mount received lots of approving glances from that girl’s sisters…females about 15 to 20 years her senior. And in that time period there was always a reasonable doubt about who…or what…was the intended recipient of said approving glances. In other words: Me? Or the bike? But these days?
I always park the bike in those lined-off zones at the top of the row in any given parking lot…those places where, even though they’re plainly marked “no parking,” there’s a tacit agreement between bikers and law enforcement personnel that, yeah, you can park there. I’ve never been ticketed nor even admonished for parking the bike in those places and neither has anyone else, to my knowledge.
So. I arrive at the BX, wheel up the parking lot row, slide into the lined off space, put the kick stand down, switch off the bike, and begin to disassemble myself. As I’m taking off my helmet I notice there’s an older man walking by with a young girl of about six or seven years of age in tow. The girl has a BIG grin on her face and is staring at Miss Zukiko as she and her dad (?) walk by, hand in hand. The girl turns and continues looking over her shoulder as they pass…and keeps staring over her shoulder all the way to the entrance of the BX/commissary…a distance of about 100 yards. I smile, both inwardly and outwardly. Miss Zukiko is indeed a comely wench!
There was a time, Gentle Reader, when YrHmblScrb and his mount received lots of approving glances from that girl’s sisters…females about 15 to 20 years her senior. And in that time period there was always a reasonable doubt about who…or what…was the intended recipient of said approving glances. In other words: Me? Or the bike? But these days?It’s always the bike. {Sigh}
More’s the pity.
And now…football!
Is that a picture of Natalie Portman?
ReplyDeleteAww, Buck, don't feel so bad ... it was ALWAYS the bikes that the girls were ogling - AMHIK. Okay, maybe once or twice it was the rider himself but that's about it. Jus' kiddin'.
ReplyDeleteHad a moment like that yesterday...
ReplyDeleteShort ride out to work to catch up on some things. Stopped at a light behind a high-school bus, and not paying attention until I hear banging windows...look up and cheerleaders are waving frantically and um...well... flashing more than their pretty smiles. Having daughters older than those girls, I slowly shook my head and quickly pulled away, not wanting to encourage such behavior.
I KNOW it was the bike! Helmet, sunglasses, covered from head to toe...
Adoring females are great...if they're old enough!
;)
SN1
I guess we could always "pretend" the women are still looking our way.....
ReplyDeleteBuckeyes squeez another one out...game not as close as the final score 24-17 over MSU, a couple of defensive TDs by Michigan State...but the OSU defense still has not given up a touchdown at home this season.
As far as the Irish? Man, that is ugly!!
Well, good or bad, "made ya look" is still an accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteJenny: Yeah...it is. And she really likes my bike, too.
ReplyDeleteLin: Oh, how deeply cruel and heartless to shatter an old man's dreams... I didn't think you were like that! :-)
Further...I'll bite: How DO you know?
Buck sez: I slowly shook my head and quickly pulled away, not wanting to encourage such behavior.
I almost believe that! :-> Well, OK...seeing as how it was high school girls, I'll cut ya some slack.
Pat sez: As far as the Irish? Man, that is ugly!!
Understatement of the day - week - month - year - decade - ... You decide.
Phlegmmy sez: Well, good or bad, "made ya look" is still an accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteWas that for SN1 or me, Phlegmmy? ;-)
That's my story...and I'm sticking to it!!!
ReplyDelete;)
SN1
Buck,
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean... I went for a ride a couple months back with a couple of friends and we noticed some very lovely ladies looking our way. The one guy without daughters their age made some understandable comments very much approved of the attention. The other guy and myself only felt uncomfortable.
I hate to say it, but that uncomfortable feeling is part of the process of raising girls.
I took my Suzuki out for a ride yesterday... it was a good day.
Buck: My Uncle Jadk is a life long Irish fan...at 76 and still going strong, this year he got the gig of his dream...that being an usher at Irish Football games at South Bend. Living 100 miles away, he makes the drive in his new 08 Buick every Saturday....had to be a long drive home yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThat team is on a downhill slide...and I don't see much looking up.
Jesse and I pulled into a gas station in South TX. There were a couple of sport motorcycles and their riders (guys) at the station also. Jesse and I switched off taking care of her Scion and making trips to the restroom. Yes, we ogled the motorcycles. As we were about to drive off, I noticed we were being ogled, too. Hmm, having Jesse and her hot little car around is kind of fun.
ReplyDeleteI bet if I saw you or your sons on their bikes, I would ogle too, although I am out of practice.
Pat sez: My Uncle Jadk is a life long Irish fan...
ReplyDeleteWow, I bet it was a long drive home. I've mentioned this elsewhere on the blog, but The Second Mrs. Pennington is an ND alumna. Ya know how many football games she went to in her senior year? Zip. None. Nada. And Seniors get the best seats, too.
Lou sez: I bet if I saw you or your sons on their bikes, I would ogle too, although I am out of practice.
But you'd ogle the bikes, right? ;-)
Sam sez: I hate to say it, but that uncomfortable feeling is part of the process of raising girls.
ReplyDeleteSo...why doesn't that feeling make the generational leap to grandparents (and I'm half-serious)? Or am I just a true Dirty Old Man? (and I'm completely joking. Well, sorta.)
I've had a lot of opportunities to ogle bikes lately.... and in my case it's usually the bikes. There are a few isolated incidences when it's not the bike though. ;)
ReplyDelete