Its been a busy few weeks at Swicked. Me, Chenoa and our three team members have been working hard to get 40 to 50 donated bikes ready to go under kids’ trees this Christmas.
So when I pulled into the shop last week and found the batteries on my camping trailer stolen, being a bit tired and lacking in patience, I was instantly in a foul mood and was questioning my faith in humanity.
Being a thief is bad enough, but stealing from people at Christmas is a whole new level of dirtbaginess (no that’s not a word, but it should be).
No point dwelling on it though, we had lots of work to do and lots of bikes to clean up...but I dwelled on it anyway and was getting angrier by the minute.
Later that morning, a family came through the door and a young boy wanted to donate his bike to the Bikes for Kids program. Not his parents, but the boy himself had made the decision to give up his own bike so another kid could enjoy it. It took the edge off my anger and brought me back to a neutral mood.
Later that afternoon, my daughter came to the shop after school and spotted a tiny little kids bike in the donation pile. She instantly had it pulled out and was wandering around the shop picking out new parts that she thought a kid would love to have on their bike.
After 20 minutes she was standing at my side directing me on how to install the grips, the bell and other fancy little accessories.
It was pretty awesome to watch a four-year-old put so much energy into this bike, knowing all along it was not for her, but for another kid who may not get a bike without some help.
So after a rough start and me wishing the thief electrocution by stolen battery, my day was turned around by a couple of little kids and their giving nature.
I guess humanity has a chance after all.
I’m James Durand and I’m Goin’ Ridin’