so long story,
February 2010. My mom, sister and I are at home. Dad went to work just like normal. Dad calls (which isn’t unusual). Except it wasn’t Dad. It was one of his coworkers. My dad broke his leg. And it’s bad. He twisted it in plastic wrap while working and fell. They are rushing him to the hospital. Meet him there. My dad has never broken a bone in his body.
I’ve never seen my mom drive so fast. Immediately, he was pushed in the doors on the stretcher. soon to find out Dad broke both bones in his leg. emergency surgery. immediate tears.
a rod is put in his leg and multiple screws at his knee and ankle. I’ve never seen my dad in so much pain before.
He was so upset this happened. multiple nights in the hospital. we were so scared.
finally he gets to come home. which was followed by countless days with his leg in a cast, having to keep it elevated. lots of meals and long nights were spent in his lazy-boy chair. months later, I remember the day they said he could finally put weight on it. crutches and walkers and canes were a normal thing in my house during that time. he can’t run at all anymore. and he can’t walk long distances.
the doctor said he needs to get the strength back in his leg, he suggested going on a bike ride if he thinks it was healed enough.
that’s what sparked my dad’s obsession with old bicycles…
from that point forward, hundreds of bikes have came through our barn out back and basement. my dad buys them at a cheap price, fixes them up to the best it can be and resells it. any bike. any age. any condition. he will trade pieces and parts and clean the bike up to look brand new.
he goes to bicycle shows, swap meets, estate sales, garage sales, old pull barns just about anywhere he thinks he could find an old bicycle.
my dad does it all and on top of all of this he still works a 40+ hour work week.
Isn't he the coolest?
here’s a small glimpse as to what it’s like having a “bicycle shop” out of our house:
•it’s not an unusual thing to come home to 3 to 5 bicycles in the front yard for sale
•when someone pulls in the driveway, we automatically know to yell “Dad! Someone’s here for a bike!” it’s a normal saying around the house these days
•it’s also not an unusual thing to come home to some person in our driveway talking to my dad about bikes or him giving us a 5 minute warning that someone is coming over to look
•my dad is usually texting or calling people who want to make a deal on a bicycle
•my sister and I are always making signs with how much money my dad wants to get from each bike $$
•he will buy a bike from a garage sale down the street, make me ride it home, clean it up and put it by the road and make a profit
•he once saw my friend riding an old bicycle from when my dad was a kid he tracked him down and asked to buy it from him
(he did. it’s in the basement.)
•he’s known as “the bicycle guy” around town
•it’s “you got a bike you’re getting rid of? I’ll send whoever I can to pick it up!”
•it’s having to run outside in the pouring down rain to get a bicycle that someone is coming to buy soon
•it’s taking multiple pictures and editing them multiple ways of each bike he has
•it’s getting out of the shower and being surprised that my dad sold a bike within the time I was in there
•it’s going on bike rides around town with my dad riding a new bike each time
•it’s people saying nice bike. all. the. time.
•it’s all hands on deck when it’s garage sale day around here
•it’s getting a phone call (or just coming home to) and it’s my dad asking can he sell MY bike…
(wasn’t very happy about that one, but he said he’d save the money for my books for college)
•it’s having my dad scroll through my Facebook just looking for a good deal on a bike someone must have posted
•it’s looking for free bikes along side of the road. doesn’t matter the vehicle we are in. he will make it work. (even if it means taking them apart, loading them in my little car. the trunk didn’t shut. probably not good. we always get the bikes though.)
•it’s driving anywhere and seeing a bike for sale along side of the road and telling my dad and he says “get in the car! let’s go see if it’s still there!”
•it’s taking a Father’s Day trip to the Bicycle Museum of America (it was really fun trip!)
•it’s when me or someone in town is having a problem with their bike, they bring it to my dad.
my dad simply does it all. If you need anything, my dad can do it. (or he knows someone who can!) my dad is awesome and I am so grateful for him and his hardworking and adventurous personality!
I love you Dad, thank you for everything!
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