Okay the title is a little misleading. My friend Richard drove into a truck. With his bicycle, the truck was not moving. He didn’t really even hit the truck. In fact he drove up the ramp and right into the back of a moving van. No, he did not do this on purpose. We were riding down the street side by side talking about whatever we happened to be talking about. Parked on the side of the road was a large moving van. Rich, did. not. see. it. All I am saying is good thing there was a ramp otherwise he would have smashed right into the back-end of the truck and the outcome probably would have been a trip to the hospital.
I’m not sure why this is a pick on Rich post, but it is.
Rich, Steve, (Richards brother) and I spent a lot of time riding around on our bicycles. Often times we experienced technical issues. I was hit by a car, (nothing serious), Steve lost his front wheel, it just kind of rolled on ahead of us. On this particular excursion we were headed to Mt. Royal. Before the journey even began Richard proclaimed; “He who gets a flat tire walks!’ Richard got a flat half way down the mountain. Steve and I were the ones that ended up walking.
Richard and I survived high school together, I honestly don’t think I ever would have survived if he wasn’t there. People would look at us in an odd sense of wonder as we would argue and bitch at each other most of the day, yet we always walked home together. We were in a lot of ways opposite. Richard is a blue-eyed blond german. His father is direct from ‘The Mother Land’ he was not a nazi, not even close but he did fight in the regular army. If I remember correctly Richards grandmother was pretty close to Hitler possibly a secretary. I don’t know it was never really talked about. Richard will correct me if I am wrong.
I on the other hand am Jewish, not hard-core, but jewish enough. My great-aunt had the numbers tattooed on her arm. I don’t like to think about the holocaust I don’t like to think about that particular war. I’ve never seen Schindler’s List. It is a sore subject with me and I can’t honestly say why, enough said. Regardless Rich and I were/are very close. But we had our moments.
Richard: “Bri, let’s go to McDonalds”
“Okay” We would get there, order the food.
Richard: “I forgot my wallet, I’ll pay you back”
Richard currently owes me $2,723.36. I’m starting to think he left his wallet at home on purpose. I also have come to the realization that I’ll never see that money again. I did get even. Richard and I built an HO scale railroad in his garage. While Rich would work on a particular part I would plug the track in at the exact right moment. It is amazing how much electricity runs through a model railroad track. It was kind of fun to watch the sparks fly from his fillings.
Richard built a model rocket, okay we both built model rockets. The difference is Richard launched his INSIDE his basement. His reasoning? He didn’t think it would fly. Man was his father pissed when he saw the ceiling. Of course we do have Steve to thank as he sat there staring at the ceiling until his father looked up.
Richard and I purchased some lumber for a deck we were building onto his folks house, (it is a great deck) we strapped the wood to the roof of the car. How does one secure wood to the roof of a car? Why rope of course! The employees at the lumber yard had a good laugh as we looped the rope through the windows and over the roof (and the wood) in the process we tied the doors to the frame of the car. Of course we only realized this when we tried to get into the car. Eventually we did the dukes of hazard thing and went through the windows. unfortunately there was no Daisy Mae waiting for us when we got home.
I think that ends my little walk down memory lane. Rich we will have to do the Skype thing one of these days.
PanningForGold 
I did not know this. We’re learning a lot we didn’t know.
I love reading your posts when they are about you and Richard growing up. I must say I was laughing out loud on this one especially about the train. In some ways he hasn’t changed. I don’t think there isn’t a week that goes buy that he doesn’t do something crazy that cracks me up. I’m sure he will get a kick out of this one.
Sometime soon we should try and plan a trip to get together.
Linda
Memories, That was a long walk back home when I got a flat on Mount Royal. We did a lot of bike riding those days. We used to bike down town and ride on the bike path that took us to old montreal. I still think about the rocket in the house. The funny thing about it and to this day don’t why it blasted off in the house. I never attached the green wire to the control box, but then again, I never studied wiring. When I taped up the rocket and bought bigger engines, it blow up when I launched the rocket out side. So many little pieces coming down. It did go as high as the roof of my parents house.
I drove into a lot of things growing up on my bicycle. Drove into a truck, 3 cars, a house going to summer school (I blame the car in the drive way), I drove into a hole when Decaire Square was being built (brian was there), and to top everything off, I drove into a park car front door. The driver open the door as I was passing by. I did move away but my saddle bags caught the door and took the door off and flew me into the middle of the street in front of the old Montreal canadian forum. The funny thing about it, the guy was still sitting in his nissan micron with his hand holding on nothing while his car door that was on the street. He did pay for my bent front rim.
Brian, we did build a big train track in the garage. Skippy enjoyed sitting on the tracks and knocking off the trains. I still want to build a train track in the basement. Also, remember skippy loved to go with us to school. Every morning we had to get him, bring back home and then go to school. We were never late, UMMMM????
That was funny with the wood, it was either cutting the rope and starting over again or go thru the door windows to get into the car. If I would do that again today, I would get stuck in the window. I like home delivery.
I still like the 8 room club house near the condo on Mac donald ave. Do you remember, the garage that turned into a pool when it rained. We even had a tenant.
Did you know, my dad collected nazi items off people. We won’t get into how he did it. He even had the Nazi symbol off the highest military people. When my dad and my grandmother moved to Canada, My grand mother thru all the stuff into the garbage and said it was not worth any money to keep. Stephen and I would be rich if my dad still had the stuff.
Again, Memories. we will have to do skype one day. It what I like, free.
I think you should send him an invoice for the two grand…. now that would be funny!