The Purchase

I awoke with greater clarity than the night before.  What did I really want? The CAAD 10.  Where could I get it?  The shop with Diane.  I thought about the long months of going without lunch, scrapping and saving and yearning to be united with that wonderfully worked aluminum.  Was I going to let one bad experience stand in the way of my dream?  I decided that I wasn't.

I took my wife to dinner than night.  She deserved it.  We had Italian with a creme brulee dessert that was to die for.  I thanked my wife for her sound counsel as always.  We left the restaurant after enjoying a wonderful meal sans kids and drove down the street to the bike shop.  I decided this was the night that all my dreams would come true.

We walked through the sliding glass doors hand-in-hand.  I felt like I might need some support if things got a little rough.  I went straight for the CAAD 10 and pulled it off the rack before anyone could say anything.  Another saleswoman (not Diane) approached me with the same "What can I help you with?"

"I would like to look at this CAAD 10" I firmly stated.

The saleswoman (we'll call her Sandy) smiled and replied "okay, have you been measured?"

Have I been measured?  I carefully choose my words.  "I have been measured" I answer without revealing what the previous super scientific computer aided measurement was.

"Great!" She replies, "Go ahead and climb on."

I throw my leg over the white top tube.  The seat is a little low.  Sandy adjusts it with her wrench.

"That looks great!" she says.  "How does it feel?"

"It feels great" I reply with great satisfaction.  From the corner of my eye I can see the Synapse watching.  I mentally stick my tongue out mockingly.

"Would you like to test ride it tonight?" Sandy asks.

"I would love too!"

Sandy leads me outside to the test ride course.  She orients me and lets me take off.  The first pedal stroke is wobbly and I almost steer into the wall.  The next stroke is more confident and I pick up speed.  I run through some of the shifting.  It is smooth and reliable.  I bank left into the first turn hard.  Stiff and controlled, just like I knew it would be. I accelerate into the straightaway then brake for a sharp u-turn.  All I need is one circuit to determine this is the one for me.  I pull up along side Sandy.

"How does it feel?"  She asks.

"Perfect.  I think this will be Merry Christmas to me!"

Sandy is stunned.  "You want to buy it?" she says with a little disbelief in the brevity of the ride.

"I do" I reply in a way like committing to a marriage more than a purchase.

Sandy tires to sell me on some pedals and other accessories that I already have but I decline politely.  She walks me and the bike over to counter, sends the bike to maintenance and rings me up.  I swipe my card and feel the rush of excitement continue to pulse inside of me.  Everyone of the sales people congratulate me on the purchase of this bike.

"She's a beauty!" one notes admiring the bike.

"You will really enjoy that one" another remarks.

Diane is not there to weigh in on my final decision.  I'm glad.

A few minutes later, my name is called and I pick the bike up from maintenance and leave the store with my wife.  I'm no longer holding her hand, but gently directing the bike to our van.