By the summer of 2016 Cindy could no longer walk for more than a few hundred yards. With the help of donations I responded by acquiring a pedicab to get Cindy out and about pastoral Norfolk. That lasted three seasons until Cindy could no longer sit up in the cab. After seven years of neglect the pedicab now returns.
My long time friend Johnny took the pedicab last fall and spent a good part of the winter giving her a tune up. He also added a few features such as battery operated turn signals and brake lights. Without some type of harness I cannot yet transport Cindy, so I needed to find other ways of putting the renovated pedicab to use.
Late June and early July found me breaking in the pedicab around the center of town, accosting every pedestrian I encountered to offer them a ride. Some said yes. This prepared me for the July 3rd “Friday Evening on the Green,” an ongoing summer event in Norfolk that runs from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.
I gave rides around the village green to both kids and adults. With July 3rd being a celebration of our 250th anniversary, most of the adults receiving rides came from out of town. Unlike Norfolk, where my pedicab is the only “game in town,” I gave rides to a couple from Bangladesh, a woman from Peru and a couple from New York City who had ridden in pedicabs before.
The following Friday I gave rides around the green again. Without the influx of out-of-towners, mainly kids lined up, some of them multiple times. I enjoy providing a little joy for the kids, but I missed the socializing I get to do with adults. After taking a couple weeks off due to sickness and a commitment, I will provide rides once again on this last Friday of July. Come and claim a ride!
I received a few offers for tips that I declined. Then the couple from Bangladesh came up to me again at the end of the evening, again asking to tip me. I told them I would take their offering ($20) and apply it to a gift card at the Berkshire Country Store. Now future tips for playing guitar or giving pedicab rides will be added to this gift card. I even created a sign: “I Pedal for Food.” If you see me and the pedicab hanging out at the center of town, come for a ride!
I intend to use the gift card to do my Christmas shopping at BCS towards the end of the year. This use of the tips will benefit me, Berkshire and whatever businesses I buy gifts from at the store. This creates a win-win-win for building community, something dear to my heart.
Speaking of building community, Weekend in Norfolk is here. For the first time I will have a booth during Sidewalk Sunday, displaying my music, writings and presentations for humanity. T-shirts with my humanity motto will be available as well. They look pretty cool!
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Great times!! Sounds like small village fun, for sure.