Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.

Christmas Greeting and Wishes

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Christmas greeting from Scooter in the Sticks
Best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas.

Season’s Greetings

It’s that time of year again. Time to reflect on the blessing in life and extend good will and love to those in your life. Family, friends, and strangers on the road. To each of you reading this whether you’ve arrived searching for information on Vespa scooters or riding motorcycles, I pray you have a fine holiday.

My memories of childhood Christmas celebrations float through my head this time of year, and in my case I see a parallel between myself and Ralphie in “A Christmas Story.” It was a magical time of year. Now it’s something different.

I made a short video greeting for the holidays which is posted on my YouTube channel. Hopefully it reflects my feelings of good will to all those Vespa scooter riders out there.

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas.

Be well and ride safe!

A Merry Vespa Christmas 2022!

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Riding on Christmas Eve

I left the house with the thermometer hovering at 6F. Cold but manageable with the right gear. It’s a tradition to ride on the day before Christmas and this year was no exception. I confess my aging body doesn’t deal with the cold as well as it once did and I suspect the time will come when I choose the easy chair over the scooter.

There were some patches of scary ice on this ride. One patch that caused me to turn around and go another way. You can have a look at a video of the ride on my YouTube channel.

But what I really wanted to do is wish you a Merry Christmas if you’re reading this. And my best wishes for a safe and healthy New Year!

A Vespa Ride on Christmas Day

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Vespa GTS scooter on a rural road
A Vespa ride on Christmas Day is a tradition. Having good weather was a welcome winter gift.

Scooter Riding Traditions

I can’t say for sure if I’ve gone for a Vespa ride on Christmas Day each year I’ve owned a scooter, but I would not be surprised if that’s true. This year the thermometer was inching toward 50F and offered no suspense or anxiety that some Christmas Day rides in the past have delivered.

It was good to get out and just let whatever noise, concerns, or bothersome thoughts I might have evaporate into the atmosphere as I rolled through the world.

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A Wish for Christmas

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Christmas greeting from Scooter in the Sticks
Best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas.

This Christmas season is the most unsettling of my lifetime. The holiday spirit experienced so many times in the past has this year remained elusive. But perhaps it’s still here, just in a different form.

It’s easy to blame the pandemic for a feeling of isolation and gloom. The virus spreading through the world is a danger, unlike anything lived since the last great pandemic in 1918. Regardless of how people view the COVID-19 risk, how they make choices to gather as families or isolate alone, for me, at a deep level an uneasiness grips me. And those feelings paint the days of this Christmas season.

I accept this reality. It’s right in front of me every day. And rather than dwell in the thoughts and feelings, I make a choice to move ahead with my life. The decisions are mine. They may not be yours.

So in this strange time Christmas has taken on a new meaning for me. It’s not a time of family celebration, of exchanging gifts, singing carols, or any of the multitude of things I’ve taken part of in the past.

This year Christmas has become a time of spiritual reflection and a recognition of the blessings that have been bestowed upon myself, my family and friends, and the world. If you’re a Christian that celebration may focus on the birth of a Savior of the world. And if you’re not, you may find your own meaning for the holiday.

I often ride my Vespa on Christmas morning, an action to embrace solitude and give thanks for life. But this year I will remain at home and whisper a prayer for peace on earth and goodwill towards all.

Best wishes and warm regards for each of you who read these words. May the day, indeed all your days, be filled with a recognition of the good in your life. There is light in the world and there is darkness.

I choose the light.

Merry Christmas!