Who Would Take A Bike Away From A Kid?

What kind of person would steal a kid’s lunch money?

Probably the same kind of person who would take a bike from a kid who just got it—on the day before Christmas Eve, no less.

That is what happened to not just one child inside Fowler High School in Syracuse, New York.  There, the Central New York Bike Giveaway—one of the largest of its kind—put 1500 bikes into the hands of kids who wouldn’t have otherwise had them. But some people, apparently frustrated by waiting on a long line outside the school, snatched bikes away from the youngsters as they left.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_OyxKvugOyE&si=-_sNo7V6EVQrUTBX

“This is really a sad situation,” said Jan Maloff, who said “this has never happened before” during the 30 years he’s held the event. 

Still, he declared the event a success and sent his volunteers back to where he had “another 200 to 300 bikes prepped” when the bikes ran out.

He plans to continue the event for next Christmas but “will probably bring in á private security force” in addition to Syracuse police so that “something like this does not happen again.”

After all, who can be happier than a kid getting a bike for Christmas—or sadder than a kid who’s had it snatched away from them?

This Munster Was Not A Monster

My childhood included TV shows with premises that, even to my jejune sensibilities, seemed wildly improbable or just plain stupid.  I mean, who gets shipwrecked on a deserted island during a three-hour tour?*

You have to admit, though, that some of the characters and the actors who played them were fun,even lovable.  They included Grandpa Munster, portrayed by future Green Party gubernatorial candidate (in New York) Al Lewis.

I mean, how can you not love a guy who wears his normal work clothes while riding a bike?

No Lycra for him!

*—There was a show about a recently-departed woman who’s reincarnated as an antique car her son buys. She talks to him, and only him, through the car’s radio. One of my uncles told me, years later, that I squealed, “A grown-up thought of this?” during the one episode we watched.

701 Days!

 701 days!

That’s how long had passed since our last “measurable” snowfall.

I used quotation marks because “measurable” is the term used by weather forecasters. I’m not denying its appropriateness. Rather, I am wondering how else they could have described whatever snow we’ve had:  I think many people didn’t even know that any had fallen.  For that matter, I can’t remember the last real (I know that’s even more vague than “measurable!”) snow we’ve had.