The Rules of Picnics

Lydia and I have been planning a picnic. Lydia is one of my littler friends in life and recently she learned how to ride her bike without training wheels. She said that riding fast is the closest she has ever come to flying. This is true for me also. She also had some very wise things to say about fear--about her fear of falling. It's not the end of the world if I fall off my bike, but I think it is. But if I don't take risks I'll never get to go faster or ride in the road. I have to remind myself of this almost every time I go rock climbing. If I don't risk falling, I will never get to the top. 

Last Friday we rode our bikes, looping around and around her block. It was getting close to bedtime, but we decided that next-time we would have to go somewhere. And that it would probably be a good idea to pack a picnic. Lydia said, "We should talk about a few things." I didn't know picnics had rules, but once she outlined them for me, it made a lot of sense.

The rules of picnics:

1) You cannot drive to a picnic. It is only real if you ride your bike or walk.

2) You cannot have a picnic on a table, or with chairs.

3) There must be surprises.

4) You have to bring something to share.

5) You have to bring a surprise.

6) No training wheels.