Breakin' the Birthday Rules

(I know, I know, I forgot to buy birthday candles)


We 've had a rule in our family that you need to be 9 before getting a dirt bike. We felt that was when the motor skills, dexterity and quick thinking that are necessary would be present. Until now.

Solomon has been athletic from birth. He mastered a two wheeled scooter at the age of 3 and a bike at 4. He's just a natural. He has also had a few years of co-riding with Doug during what is known as "The Dirt Bike Game" when Doug and Solomon "chase" the other kids through the woods, acting like a grumpy old man who is chasing the neighborhood kids off of his property. This may sound dangerous but really he never gets very close at all, just stirs up the adrenaline in everyone and they think it's cool that they can outrun a motorized vehicle. So, Solomon understands the steering, leaning, etc...Well, he's been "saving" for a dirtbike for sometime but often breaks into his stash (change from pockets) and buys himself something nifty from Sandcastle. He has been saying for months that all he wanted for his birthday was $$ for a dirtbike someday. Based on his savings/spending habits, we figured he would have enough to possibly buy one and ride it to his first real job.

Yesterday was his 6th birthday. Boy did those years go quickly. He was presented with his own real dirtbike helmet, goggles, gloves and chest protector. Feigning going out to play The Game, he was led to come across a bright orange KTM 50 CC just for him. In my excitement, I totally left the video camera on the porch. Boy would his reaction been worth a million bucks on film. I didn't see it myself but it was truely speechless and on the verge of tears.

Some last minute instructions before the test drive...

I considered borrowing training wheels until he had some hours in but I felt silly after I saw him take off. Within 5 minutes he was standing up for apparant jumps and whizzing through our lakes of water left by Storms 2008.

Some felt he would need to run completely out of gas before getting off. Doug coaxed him though into spraying it off to keep it looking good and honestly he was quite red in the face by this time. What a perfect gift.

Around 10:30 last night when we thought he was asleep he yelled out in his emergency voice, simply wanting to know when it would be time to wake up.

He got up today at 6:30. Between him and the puppy it looks like some long summer days beginning early and ending late.