That’s the Cantonese saying describing one who does something that one is not supposed to just for the hell of it. Just moments before any self-inflicting unforced accidents, we have itchy bums. Like in car accidents, moments before them we suddenly have urges to do something stupid; we speed up or we cut over the car next to us etc. Watching Alec grow-up makes me realize this.
After Alec and I got new bikes, in the passed two Sunday mornings, we went to a fairly long bike path and did some long distance biking. Twice last Sunday and three times yesterday, Alec suddenly rode really fast and then put his legs up in the air and let the bike coasted. All of which I have told him not to do so. The 5th time, he had his legs up backward and his body like a flying Superman! As my heart almost beat off my chest and eyes almost popped out of their sockets, I yelled “put your feet down, put your feet down. PUT YOUR FEET DOWN!”, I watched him ran over a curb and crashed front wheel first against a lamp post with his body wrapped around the lamp post.
Almost shit my pants, I got off my bike and ran toward him, luckily found him unhurt without even a bruise or scratch. I made sure he was OK before I got mad and asked him why he would not listen even after 4 times I’ve told him not to do so. I now have a slight glimpse of what my parents must have felt during my bike accidents.
As it turned out, the front rim of his bike was warped a little which should be able to be trued out, but one side of rear fork which holds the hub screw was indented a little making the wheel can’t rotate freely. I am not sure if the rear fork could be straightened out.
I keep my processions in very good condition if not pristine. I still have a 24 year old jacket that I still wear. Because of this, I still have a whole lot of very old stuff in the house as well as brain full of memories of everyone I ever knew. But because of Alec’s itchy bum, a 1-1/2 week brend new bike, which could have lasted a life time, is now broken. Even if it could be fixed it is just not the same anymore. Apart from Alec’s well being, this is the kind of things that tears my heart.
So, in case of itchy bums, just get off whatever you’re doing at the moment and kick yourself in the butt before disasters strike. You’d feel better afterwords.
We were lucky to have just ended up with helmetheads.
Update (08:30pm) : Took Alec’s bike to the shop this evening. As it turned out, the rear fork was OK, not bent. They just made some adjustments to the front wheel and front and rear brakes, and way we went. No charge. Great service.
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