Sparkling Trees and Lights
Christmas — a time of magic and wonder. As a child the crackling energy of lights and presents and visions of Santa Claus. More years added ideas of spirit and faith, magical and wondrous in different ways as I journeyed through my own notion of God and Christmas. At the very least, I find this a time of personal reflection, a search to rediscover magic and recognition of the Christmas blessings that I can easily overlook.
With Christmas just a few hours away I wish each of you reading these words, regardless of your belief, good tidings and cheer in hopes that your life, your family and yourself are blessed, healthy and safe. Best wishes for the road ahead and all that it may reveal.
Winter Riding with a Vespa Scooter
With my Vespa in the body shop, there are no opportunities to navigate the world on two wheels and ponder the Christmas spirit. Instead I’ve been wandering through memories of past Christmas experiences and rides.
Christmas Eve Vespa Ride
A couple years ago I was on the road on Christmas eve riding through Rothrock State Forest in a light snow. All that was missing were the jingle bells that are etched in my brain as an element of the season.
Merry Christmas to Scooter and Motorcycle Riders Everywhere
My wish for each of you — to find comfort on those difficult days we all experience, and recognition of the beauty in the world to help fuel hope when it’s hard to find, friendship to brighten the journey you’re on, courage to continue on when you want to stop, patience to accept the things you learn and experience that aren’t always what we want, faith that everything will be ok, and love to complete your life.
Merry Christmas, Steve.
Merry Christmas Bill!
Merry Christmas Steve, been sick at home by myself for the last three days and your post was so beautiful to just read….I like your melancholy…it comes from an innocent children’s eyes and mine still does also…. we will have to get together some warm weather day and ride our scooters…to your favorite hang out. Beautiful pictures. Good riding ahead!!!
Brent
Sorry to hear you’re at home sick and alone on Christmas eve. Hang in there — time and rest does wonders.
As Christmas goes, those childhood memories still have me wanting the BB gun and go-kart I never got. And I still look up at the sky wondering if I’ll see a sleigh…
Warm weather will bring new riding opportunities. We’ll have to plan something.
Merry Christmas!
We were fortunate enough to save and have our Father bridge the gap on the gas powered go cart but Mom kept us away from B B guns…probably would have “shot our eyes out”. Every Christmas eve I usually listen as I fall asleep for Santa on the roof and if it creaks…I know it’s him.
Brent
I hear those same sounds on the roof, “Santa…”. Always turns out to be squirrels…
A Merry Christmas to you, Steve, and your family (human and canine!)
I wonder if you know how much you impact our lives with your words here on Scooter in the Sticks. I never miss reading your posts, and re-read them sometimes to learn when a new situation for me recalls one of the posts where you described a similar situation for you. As I approach my 62nd year, less than a month away, I ponder how much longer I will be riding, and if I should be riding. Your journey, with all its struggles and joys, shines a light to help me see and think about and travel my own path. Thank you for sharing with us. You are an inspiration.
Merry Christmas Steve. I haven’t been onboard very long and I am very much enjoying the blog. Love the pics attached to this edition.
Merry Christmas Steve, I liked the lights on you….brings out your eyes. 😉
All part of my dazzling personality…
Great pictures! Great words! MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours.
Thanks Robert. Merry Christmas to you and your family as well!
Steve;
Your blog will be one of the gifts I will be thankful for this season.
Thanks Steel. I appreciate the kind words.
“An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, Joseph , son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name JESUS, for he will SAVE his people from their sins.”
Merry Christmas Steve and a Blessed New Year. Pray you feel better in 2017. Thanks again for all of your posts.
Karl
Thank you Karl!
Lovely post! Happy holidays to you and thanks so much for all the contributions you make through this blog over the years. Hopefully both you and your Vespa will be up for many more miles in 2017!
I have my fingers crossed that I still have some miles ahead that will help quiet my soul and provide some fodder for future blog posts!
Have a fine holiday!
Merry Christmas to you and Kim and the loyal Belgian ball fetchers!
Those ball fetchers are zonked out for the night. Unfortunately they’re a little muddy. More dog maintenance in the morning…
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Steve and to all who follow you. From Danny in South Africa. Just love the first picture of the vespa on the road in the snow.
And best wishes to you and yours Danny for a fine Christmas. It’s funny, whenever a see a picture of a Vespa in the snow I think “magic”. When I see a motorcycle in the same situation it’s — “nightmare”…
Another gem. Thank you for this consistently engaging blog, Steve. I wish you, Kim and all your friends, family and dogs a happy festive season and a happy, healthy 2017 (and beyond).
Kindest regards,
Keith
(Hampshire UK)
Thanks for your kind words Keith. Best wishes to you and your family for a great holiday!
Merry Christmas to you Steve. Think positive towards the New Year and ride safe!
Thank you. And best wishes for a fine holiday season to you too.
Thank you Steve ! Merry christmas to you dear steve and long life to scooter in the sticks.
Merci Steve ! Joyeux noël à toi cher Steve et longue vie à scooter in the sticks.
Thank you Laurent!
Merry Christmas! Nice selection of pictures. I especially like the Vespa on the snowy road.
Thanks Richard. Hope you guys had a good flight back to Alaska.
Merry to you and Kim, Steve. Love the photos and beautiful words. See you next year!
Thanks Jillian. Hope you, Mark and the girls had a good Christmas. Next year will be here in no time!
One more Meretricious Anna lotta good rides to anticipate.
Peace, Tholepin
Meretricious! Not often I have to look up words here — thanks for the exercise! As far as the meaning, well, not sure how to take it. It’s late now, perhaps when I wake the meaning will come.
Yo whomever it is that thinks my comment above is immoderate, may I suggest a rice pudding to calm your nerves. Be serene, little one.
I don’t think your comment is immoderate — comments are expressions of what we think.
Best to you Tholepin for the holidays!
Hope your Christmas was really good, and that you have an even better 2017!
Regards,
Karl U
I hope your Christmas holiday unfolded well too. Here’s to a great new year for both of us!
Nice to hear from you Steve and thank you for your good wishes. I note too that you recognise that many of us may not share your faith. I have to admit I have no religion but that doesn’t stop me enjoying your blog and Christmas sentiments.
Sometimes I wish we had snow here in December but seeing the Vespa in the snowy scene made me thankful for a warm to hot Yuletide, swimming, the beach, summer holidays with family and children.
May all two wheelers have a happy and peaceful Year in 2017 and may your colleagial blogs continue.
I hope the holiday treated you well. You’re right about recognizing the diversity of faith, belief and tradition related to Christmas. I’ve felt my faith and tradition may work for me but not for someone else. So whatever I share, I try to keep it focused on me. I’m glad you find some value in what I write from time to time.
While I love the look of snow I have to confess my body is not doing well with the cold anymore. It was 60F here yesterday and it was a pleasure after many 10F days.
Best to you for a great 2017!
Thank you for posting your thoughts. They are appreciated by all of us. I too should be on the mend after the middle of next month…up coming knee surgery. Scooter (Stella w/sidecar) awaits. May replace weak battery so I won’t have to kick start it on some of these cold mornings though.
I hope you are doing well after the surgery. A Stella with a sidecar sounds like fun. After knee surgery electric start would be a must. Let me know how things are going.
best,
steve