Wombats Have A Crisis Of Faith

Hej wombats. The bike is on the road again. It may not be me on the bloody thing, but it is officially running. It’s such a beautiful day here in Gimhae today, about 25 degrees not a cloud in the sky, a perfect day for a ride. Unfortunately Parky and I are at home organising the final stuff for her immigration and a mate is out riding the Magna. This is the first time I have ever lent the bike to anyone and I don’t mind admitting that it is freaking me out a little bit. I guess that is to be expected. But he is an Aussie, a mate and has years of riding under his belt. Moreover, I have always sworn I wouldn’t be one of those dudes who is precious about an inanimate object. I remember back at uni when I was in deepest shit having had my nifty-fifty stolen and not able to get to work. My great mate Craig told me to take his 197~ HT Premier, immaculate condition, completely original (he was only the second owner) beautiful, beautiful car. He said “I don’t need it for the next 3 months”, like that was justification to give away a piece of art like that. I kept asking, “Are you sure? Are you sure?” His response floored me as it would anyone who is a passionate admirer of such a thing “It’s just a fucking car”. I guess I don’t need my bike for a bit and it’s just a fucking bike.

You know regardless of how many times I tell myself that, I can just never quite believe it. It’s not just a bike. It’s my bike and it is a beautiful bike. It looks like a boar, it handles like a dream, it sounds like a hoard of invading Mongols, it goes like a cut cat and I want to perform unnatural carnal deeds with it. Anything that makes anyone want stray so far from the Judeo-Christian ethic of ‘one man, one woman, bound only to each other ’til death do they part’ is not “Just A Bike”. I’ve let a mate ride it for one afternoon. How Craig ever gave me that car for 3 months is beyond me.
  
Don’t take this as conformation of a free-for-all. I’ve still only met about 3 or 4 people in this entire country that I would let take the bike (for their own sakes, not that of an inanimate object) but this just leads me to thinking, “Am I that person who doesn’t get all precious about possessions? That person whom I always thought I was? That person whom it is bloody easy to think you would be, especially when you have no possessions of any real value?” For the first time in my life I actually have something a little expensive and special to me that somebody else has asked to use, and it pains me to say The Jury Is Still Out.