Once upon a time...

Have you ever had to pinch yourself to make sure you're really awake -- to make sure you're not dreaming; not in a fairy tale somewhere?

I had one of those moments today.

When I was growing up I was bummed because sometimes people had a hard time remembering my name. It still happens once in awhile today. I get called Ken, or Kent, or Kevin (or Steve or Scott!). These days it doesn't really bum me out, but when I was a kid? Major bummer.

Then when I was about 13 years old I read a book which changed my life...and because of that, today I had to pinch myself. The book was called The Mouse and the Motorcycle and tells the story of a boy named Keith who befriends a small mouse named Ralph. He gives the mouse a small, red, toy motorcycle and teaches him to ride it by making a vroom! sound with his tiny mouse mouth. I thought it was so cool that there was a boy named Keith in that story, and a bright red motorcycle! From the time I closed that book I wanted a motorcycle of my own, but had to content myself with closing my eyes and imagining myself zipping around my bedroom floor on a tiny toy motorcycle.

Today my fantasy came to life!

I bought a 1986 Yamaha YX600

~ Keith
(those rips were on my jeans before I rode the bike, I swear!)