Valentine Pedals

I had a great Valentine's Day. When my husband told me he wanted to buy me some pedals, I thought he meant petals--as in roses. But off we went to the local bicycle shop, where he bought me new pedals and the special cycling shoes that snap into them. Very cool and a nice addition to the classic road bike he bought me in 1984 when we were engaged.

I guess bicycle pedals don't sound very romantic compared to jewelry or flowers or heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. To some, they might even fall into the same category as vacuum cleaner bags and toasters--a little too utilitarian to be considered legitimate Valentine gift fodder--but since I love to cycle, for me they were the perfect present for several reasons.

First, I can now climb the steep hills in town a little more efficiently. A little. Sadly, gravity is still gravity, even with fancy bike pedals and shoes. Secondly, I get a better workout now that I can exert strength in the uplift motion rather than just the push of the pedals. And, thirdly, I can now participate in public cycling events without causing my teenage daughter to cringe at my obsoleteness.

But the biggest reason this was the perfect gift is because it meant that weeks ago when I casually mentioned a desire to someday upgrade, my husband listened to what I said, filed the information in his head, and then acted on it when he had the opportunity. As a Christian, I know that my heavenly Father always hears my prayers and blesses me with good things beyond belief, but around the house the only ones who really perk up their ears when I talk are the dogs. This was a good reminder that a wagging tail isn't the only sign that someone is listening to me.

At the bike shop, an older man overhead our interaction with the proprietor and shared his thoughts on various models of pedals. Having a neuroma on his foot, he said, required certain considerations. We left the store and my husband said, "That poor guy with his smelly feet," which puzzled me until I realized his ears had picked up an aroma instead of a neuroma.

All things considered, it really is amazing that I ended up with pedals and not petals for Valentine's Day.