“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” Katharine Hepburn
Thanks to my granddaughter, the wedding party was alerted that Nana was getting a ride on a Harley. Someone in the crowd took this photo and posted it on Facebook. I'm so glad I'm too old to worry about my image.
Travels With Maggie
Yesterday morning started here in Camden, Arkansas, overhung with dark storm clouds threatening to burst at any moment. I waited to run my errands until after they fulfilled that promise and the sky had lightened.
But while I was at the grocery store stocking up for life on the road, those tricky clouds came back; and they began furiously dumping their load at the exact moment I left the sheltered interior of Wal-Mart.
My first thought was unprintable, but then I remembered playing in the rain as a child and how much fun it had been. It was a warm day, so the rain, once I got into it, actually felt good. Playful now, I did my own version of Gene Kelly’s “Dancing in the Rain,” as I loaded wet bags into the side door of my RV.
Afterwords, with rain dripping from every part of my body, I ducked into my tiny RV bathroom and put on dry clothes before getting back on the road. You get to do that if you take your house to the store with you.
I suspect that Maggie is always wondering what her crazy mistress is going to do next. -- Photo by Pat Bean
This thought was reinforced this morning when my daughter-in-law ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ed the photo of me published on Facebook that was taken at my grandson’s recent renaissance wedding.
One of the attendees had a Harley, and he gave my beautiful young granddaughter a ride around the block on it. I was outside when they returned, and she said: “What do you think of that Nana?”
“I’m jealous,” I replied.
“Hop on,” said the tattooed cyclist.
And I did – and loved every minute of the wind blowing into my face as he slowly drove me around the block.
Pat Bean's blog 
Love that photo! Pat, you are a wonderful example of how we should all strive to age with grace and great fun!
That’s probably way too high a compliment, but I love it. I just try to get the best out of every day that I still have left on this earth. I don’t want to miss a minute of it.
Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com
Just had to say how delighted I am to read your blog every day…I think your granddaughter is lucky to have inherited even a small part of your “joie de vivre”!
Love the Harley! Never slow down and have fun 🙂
I’ve never ridden on a Harley, Pat, but I have been a passenger on a big road bike. You’re right, it’s a really neat experience. And I was complimented as being “a good passenger,” even though I had no idea what that entailed. Turns out it means just “sitting quiet” and letting the driver do all the work. Hey, I can do that! LOL Sam
Good for you! From the look on your face in that photo, it was great fun. 🙂
Great story! I have a question though. Do you have the capability of running the air conditioner when you are not hooked up to electricity or have the motor running? I was just wondering what you do with Maggie when you have to stop on the road & she can’t go in with you, like at WalMart.
My RV doesn’t get as hot as a car. Up to about 80 degrees and with window’s open, Maggie’s fine. I know because so am I. In an emergency I can start up my generator so I can run the air conditioner, which I have done a time or two. Or I can leave the RV running and the air conditioner on, which I have also done a time or two when it’s just to run in and run out. But mostly I shop early if I have to so it’s cool enough for her in the RV without running anything. Remember I escape Texas’ summer heat. The other thing I do when I’m going to do a lot of sight-seeing, or go off all day bird watching where I can’t take her with me on a hot day is to rent a car for the day so I can leave my RV hooked up and Maggie in comfort. She doesn’t stress out at all if I’m gone all day. Not like my previous cocker who would have been anxious the whole timeI was missing. I usually wake Maggie up when I return and she yawns and gives me a look that says “you back already,” or the one that says “I’m ready for my walk right now.
You absolutely win the coolest-grandma-ever award. Love the photo of you on the bike, and even more so I love the gist of this post. Just have fun, no matter what your age. I couldn’t agree more!
Pat, now that’s another great travel experience to add to your adventures. The motorcycle ride looks so fun! Good for you for going!
I love reading your blogs. They make me smile. This is probably my favorite entry. It shows a spontaneous and adventurous side of you, Nana. Love you.
How wonderful to be living life on your terms…you are such a free spirit.
I wanna be just like you when I grow up…LOL