It’s Christmas Eve and time for me to extend best wishes for Christmas, the holiday season and the coming new year. At 2am this morning I was out in the driveway fighting with Christmas lights, camera and a bad idea to make a picture that would represent my feelings of riding and the holiday season. For the past couple years the safe bet was a picture of the Vespa hauling home the tree but Kim and I made an impulse buy one evening a few weeks ago at a local Christmas tree vendor. So no tree to haul on the scooter. For those of you who just have to see the tree on the back of the Vespa check the bottom of this post for one of the classic pictures.
The holidays always seem to become hectic despite the best planning. Providence intervened this year to bring a bit of needed solitude to the house in the form of an impending ice storm. We canceled our traditional Christmas Eve party this year when nearly everyone who planned to attend was now departing town early to avoid the weather on Christmas Day. So I can sit here now and type and reflect on the season and it’s meaning. Junior is laying at my feet gnawing on a marrow bone while Kim sits in the living room illuminated by the Christmas tree. Life is good and there is much to be grateful for.
After giving up trying to produce the picture in my head for my holiday greeting I put the lights, tripod and camera away. Could not seem to push the Vespa back into the garage though and decided to go for a ride. The night sky was clear and the temperature was a relatively comfortable 20F. Riding at night always is nice especially when there is snow on the ground and Christmas lights on. Though not so many as the clock ticks near 3am. In Boalsburg there were lights glowing on Main Street and I took a little time to wander around and shoot a few pictures. While it seemed nostalgic to me I’m now sure how a passing police cruiser would view me. Faith in the power of the Christmas spirit kept me going.
I hope these words find each of you with a quiet heart and a smile on your lips. For a day the cares of the world can slip away and the power of the season can renew us. For any of you who receive a new scooter or motorcycle, well, I don’t want to hear about it……*grin*
All the best for a Merry Christmas and bright holiday season!
Oh, one of the classic Vespa Christmas tree pictures.
“…relatively comfortable 20 degrees.” That seems a little excessive even for you, you happy sentimentalist.
You somehow manage to make your life sound like a Christmas Carol and the photograph of the improbably named town seems to confirm it. I am content with my palm trees.
I really cracked up seeing the picture of your scoot with the Christmas tree on the back…can not imagine doing that myself but good for you!
Well, it looks like you got a cool photo after all. I love the look those blue lights hanging around your neck, as it sort of looks like a cool (literally) “Am I really doin’ this?” mess, not to mention it produced a really nice wintry blue glow on the scooter. You never disappoint! You certainly are quite the scooter trooper, Steve. I have sort of the same reputation in my town, but 20 degrees Fahrenheit is real ambitious, even for scooter troopers like us. I realize with the right cold-weather gear, however, it can be done reasonably comfortable. The second photo is great too! It’s even better considering what you had to endure to get it…very cold and in the wee hours of the morning. Although one can imagine how cold it must have been, the warm incandescent lighting gives the shot a nice warm and peaceful feeling. It would make a beautiful Vespa post card. You got the scooter positioned in just the perfect glowing light.
May your Christmas holiday be filled with the same joy and peace you have brought myself and others through your awesome blog.
Hello Steve
I dont write here for several months but always read, very good christmas to you an your famile. CONTINUE whit your scooter project.
Rui
Actually, I like the lights… maybe that could be your new holiday pic! 😉
Hope you and yours are having a wonderful holiday season, and I for one will be looking forward to your new adventures in 2010.
__Orin
Scootin’ Old Skool
Steve, it’s really hard to photograph Christmas Lights on one’s vehicle isn’t it?
Merry Christmas to you and yours…
Merry Christmas to you, Kim and Junior!
Chuck
Conchscooter: As always you are an acute observer. I do become sentimental and full of nostalgic noise this time of year. There are no palm trees in my noise though.
Anonymous: It’s much easier to haul a tree than it appears. They don’t weigh much and backroads allow for slow travel.
Scooter Dude: With the right gear and frame of mind the cold weather doesn’t bother me. Much. But there are days…
Thank you for the Christmas greetings and the kind words about the blog!
Rui: Thanks and have a great holiday!
Orin: The year went fast. I’m hoping I can slow 2010 down a bit. And continue to have some scooter adventures. Merry Christmas!
Charlie6: Trying to wrap the lights around me, run to the camera on the tripod and trip the shutter timer and then get into position was frustrating. Anyone watching would have wondered what kind of idiot I was. Am.
Chuck: Thanks for the Christmas greetings. Be well on the West coast!
Steve,
Caption for the guy in blue lights?
“Earthlings I come in peace.”
Oh, and peace and health to you!
Tim
Tim: Yeah, with that Olympia suit I look like some sort of spaceman. Or Power Ranger. Riding gives plenty of opportunities to squash down your ego…
And best wishes for a fine New Year to you!
Dear Scooter In The Sticks (Steve):
A ride through town at 3am on Christmas Eve… What a great thing!
We shared our Christmas Eve festivities with friends on the other side of town, but were back at home by 10pm. I put Gregorian chants on, instead of the usual Christmas music, and sat back with a cup of egg nog, the adult variety.
It was just nice to be at home. The driving would start at 6:30am the next day… And I’d end up spending eight hours in the car… But that has become a holiday tradition too.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Kind of eerrriee the photo with the blue lights. I think you might scare some of those kids waiting for Santa. Riding around town at 3AM? Not a good idea in South Florida, and not because of the weather. Happy to see you and your family enjoying the holidays warm and safe. Have a great 2010 and ride safe.