Of wheels and parenting

After church service at Suntec City, yan and I proceeded to Carrefour and bought Rachel her first bike, one of those four wheels type with a matching red helmet to go along. So, we had to cut short the usual weekend shopping to bring the bike home in a cab. To do that, we had to carry her little bike and walk through the Mazda's Roadshow event where all the latest Mazdas 2, 3, 5, 7 and the convertible were on SALE. Rachel wanted a red convertible while I was wishfully thinking that perhaps one day I will drive a tiny Mazda 2, instead of taking cab everywhere since my secondary school days. (When mum was too busy to drive me about).

I had obtained my driving licence in 1995 long before I went to Europe for the ultimate 32 days tour and before I had graduated from NTU. My dad had promised me a car, probably one affordable second hand model should I pass my driving test. I did. BUT, he did not honour his words. "No la, no money already LAH!" was his standard reply. I was so incensed deep within, ONCE AGAIN, he made another promise, not intending to keep at all. The good kid in me kept all that anger, frustrations and disappointment deep within. Sadly its that same reply throughout my growing years. My family never visit the zoo, science centre or anyway except those awful Kusu island pilgrimages where my taoist family prayed.

"I will get a proper job, save up for my own car," I said to myself. Unfortunately due to unfavourable job market conditions, I eventually worked as an auditor with a starting pay of only S$1300, net of 20% CPF contributions and my parents wanting at least $500 monthly maintenance, insurance, church tithes etc I had to dip into my savings almost every month. How to save for the fine set of wheels????? I never did. I figured its easier to get around in cabs everyday and everywhere until the Asian Financial Crisis which made public transport by bus and train a part of my everyday life.

So, with the bike, I was prepared to help Rachel cycle at the estate premises for a start. Rachel, however was so natural with it, cycling, circling, slowing, stopping the bike that we ended the day at the beach, with me running after her for a long time, till I had blisters from the sandals I was wearing. Like me as a kid, she is fond of music and good in sports. We also detol washed and cleaned her tricycle together as baby Lynn, my brother Ron's youngest girl will be taking over the still in good condition pink 3 wheeler with a nice purple rear basket meant for 2+.

It seemed like yesterday when we bought Rachel this tricycle, wanting her to exercise at home, then Mandarin Gardens studio apartment. It was only $49.90, could be folded for easy storage and looks like a fun thing for an active toddler. Rachel liked it immediately and like all toddlers, they started to learn by pedaling backwards. Before long, she was complaining that the tricycle was too small for her long strong legs when she cycle about in the Neptune court balcony to water her sunflowers. Of course, we understood. Its time to UPGRADE.

My parents never help me learn to cycle. I remembered asking for a bike year after year until I gave up. I did had a pair of roller skates eventually. Then roller blades. My first bike an embarrassing BMX was bought by my dad when I told him I need a bike to get about the campus grounds. Needless to say, I was too shy to ride it in school and it soon had deflated tyres and rusting parts. I know he loves me but he did not give the appropriate gift that I needed and wanted. Why would I, 19 going on 20 want to ride a BMX for a young teen????????

Anyway, while Rachel chose her bike, I tried on roller blades and pondered the possibility of blading again. In me, there is this "need for speed" syndrome that never wore off since a child. The last time I was blading, this super fast pair of used metroblades bought for $100, I was in the FCBC church cell, in my early 20s, and I had plenty of glazes since I did not wear protection pads and helmet. One time I fell so hard and bruised my lower back, not being able to walk properly for a week, not forgetting I blacked out for a few seconds while hurting my head. In the end I had to sell these cherished blades due to mum's advice (read nagging). Hahaha