August 8th, the date we planned to resume Larry’s epic bike ride across the country, came and went.

Guess what, we’re still home, waiting. Waiting on the camper’s recall oven part to show up. Can’t use Charlie the camper until it’s fixed.

Sitting on our front porch, eating our orange and cream Goodpops, I asked Larry, “When’s the last possible day you will leave for the remainder of your bike ride?”

“August 22,” he replied.

“August 22nd? That’s not far away. You sure that is the last possible day you will leave to finish your ride?”

“September 1st,” Larry reconsidered.

We’ve gone over several options in case the camper isn’t fixed in time. His favorite is to rent a U-Haul, load up ‘Sparky’ his new red touring bike, and camping gear, then drive to the vicinity of where we left off, and start his ride, solo.

At first it sounded like a threat, but the more he talked, researched, and planned, it become his new reality.

An old chicken or turkey farm, the cycling turn around point for me.

Yesterday, on our daily bike ride, I gave a wide berth turning a corner where four young people with a raft, a paddle board, and oars stood to cross. My bike slipped out from underneath and I slid along the road. When my helmet met the asphalt, and it zipped by under my head, I closed my eyes, and thought, ‘this is the end.’

When I came to a stop, I sat up, took off my helmet and looked up at the horrified group in wet bathing suits.

“Are you ok?” They asked in unison.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m ok,” I said as I stood up and shakily walked to my bike. By now Larry had turned back and joined in the, “Are you ok?”

I really wasn’t ok, but so embarrassed was I, that I got back on my bike and pedaled home, leaving a mini blood trail from the deepest road rash on my right forearm.

Larry doctored me up and made a dash to purchase a mini thumb splint. “You’ve probably just jammed it,” he concluded.

At my impromptu chiropractor appointment, because my neck hurt, I told my practitioner about Larry’s new bike plans. “Heck, he went out today and purchased a new improved lawn mower so I could easily tend to the yard,” I added.

“What a guy.” He said sarcastically. You have to know, my chiropractor loves us both, he thinks the world of Larry, so that comment was so perfect. I gasped and laughed.

At dinner with Larry’s son Adam and his wife Carly, we told them Larry’s new plan and my aversions to it. Adam suggested an Apple Watch to notify me if Larry takes a spill. Sounded great in theory, but Larry wasn’t convinced; I don’t think he’ll get one.

Walking to our car, I solicited a joint laugh when I said loud enough for everyone to hear, “I may have to injure my other side to keep you home.”

Last night I dreamt of a meeting with financial advisors, going over our will and newly won lottery moneys for the six grown children. I was discussing the trailer Charlie and the new truck, Big White, telling the female advisor how selfish my husband’s purchases were.

“Where is he now?” she asked.

“On his bike ride, without the truck or camper. I can’t get a hold of him.” I answered. I told her I could not back up the trailer and was thinking of selling it.

That’s when I woke up and started to laugh. Quietly at first, because Larry was still asleep. I reviewed my dream and it’s significance to the new plan. While Larry’s off solo cycling, he expects me to hook up the camper, take it to the facility across the highway when the cook stove part arrives and then bring the camper back home and park it. Park it, as in back it into its narrow slot between the neighbors fence and ours. Back the camper into a narrow slot he himself needs assistance with. I laughed a little louder. Which neighbor can I get to help me? I wondered. As I went through the list, I laughed even louder. The more I tried to suppress my giggle, the more it tried to escape. I had to leave the bedroom and sit on the couch. It was a great place to watch the sun rise. Yellow and purple, pretty colors like my swollen thumb.

I’m not sure of Larry’s ‘departure date,’ he’s so antsy to get a move on, it could be this weekend.