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Tuesday
Mar272012

How I Beat the Blues on a Cotton Candy Cruise by Helene Weinberg

How does a gal go from feeling “black and blue” to “in the pink”?

I shifted from bruise to cruise.  A few weeks ago as I was making my way to Seven-Eleven for their stiffly stale Breakfast Sausage muffin, something pink and shiny seemed to glow from the newly opened My Bicycle Shop across the street. I forgot about my growling stomach and got up close and personal with a Cotton Candy stretch vintage Beach Cruiser.  I didn’t know if she was for sale or belonged to someone inside the shop but I knew I needed to pursue. 

Now mind you, I’m not a Pink Person.  My entire wardrobe is black.

Black hat, pants, skirts, dresses, purse, wallet, sunglasses, shoes, socks, gloves, scarves, shawls, sneakers, flip-flops. Black.  My last bike was Black.  I didn’t lock it and it was stolen. I was feeling too black to replace it.  Until now. 

I had suddenly developed Pink Eye.

Inside the shop business was brisk as Cameron, the owner was attending to several customers. There were bikes in various stages of refurbishment, each with a history and a story to tell. I waited and waited for a pause in the dangling conversation of this barbershop bike quartet as to inquire.

I kept a very frequent eye on Cotton Candy as she glistened in the sun outside.

I finally raised my hand to halt the quartet’s harmony and blurted out impatiently:

“Just wanted to know if that bike outside is for sale?” Cameron gave me a thumbs-up as I boldly asked for a test drive.  I got the green light and took a spin.

The bike-love lanes beckoned me along 1st Street, 2nd Street, 3rd & Broadway and beyond.  Feeling “in the pink” on this Cotton Candy Cruiser was the quick cure for my bruised black & blues.

I cruised, I sang. I rang her bell and she rang mine.  I spun and sung a Peddle Medley of Pink’s “I’m coming out so you better get this party started”- interwoven with

“I love to ride my Bicycle, I love to ride my Bike “and ending with a rousing rendition of “C.C.- C. C. Rider. (In tribute to Cotton Candy, now named “C.C.”)

I didn’t want the ride to end and Cameron must have thought I looted the Cruiser.

Feeling as exhilarated as a 12 year old girl living in a cotton-candy world,

I found a friend, an escape from my basic black blahs and a crayon-colored path to the Merry ole Land of Ahhh’s.   

Cameron made me a sweet offer I couldn’t refuse and that bicycle from My Bicycle was now in fact MY bicycle.  There was even icing on the cake as he bestowed her with a classic White Basket. Before leaving the shop I bestowed C. C. with a GOOD lock and learned how to keep her secure. C.C. and me.  We are definitely in the Pink!

And ohhh, the places we’ll go.  More on our new adventures next time.

Till then, go beat the blues and just cruise.

About Helene Weinberg

Helene Weinberg - Creative Being and founder of Out To Lunch Events, is an independent entertainment professional, writer, actor, coach and Cabaret Diva. Find out more at: www.outtolunchevents.com Email: Heleneotl@gmail.com



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