Psst. Your inner child thinks you are sooo lame.

It's true. We've been talking.

I was heading out for a bike ride the other day and since you were busy watching TV, or maybe you were shopping or working late, or waxing the Hummer, or programming your Blackberry, we can't remember, your inner kid asked if they could come out with me because they were bored and, frankly, a little disgusted with you.

I was flattered to be asked and looked forward to the company since I had heard that you used to be a lot of fun, so we set off for an adventure. We rode...and rode...and rode. We rode past meadows, and streams, and a field full of cows, 3 coyote, 2 fox snakes, a family of painted turtles sitting on a log and finally under the mulberry trees, stopping for a quick sample. We agreed that being tall enough to pick the berries right off the trees was so much better than picking the mushy ones off the sidewalk like we did when we were kids.

That got us to reminiscing about the alley by the trees and the way we would wait for kids to ride by on their bikes over the gravel. The "rich" kids on the block always had money and coins would always vibrate their way out of everyone's pockets when they hit certain rough stretches in the alley. We'd busy ourselves catching lizards, pretending not to notice, all the while listening for the telltale jingle. Oh, yeah! We are heading to Ono's for some penny candy! There will be Zots and candy lipstick in the clubhouse tonight!

And we cracked up over the time I got grounded for a MONTH when I was young because I went off to the sand dunes at the end of my street by myself and my mom didn't think that was safe. A MONTH. And EVERY day stuck. And then, my FIRST day of freedom, I was busted again (can't remember why) and grounded for another week.

And then there was the time that my dad (a heating and air wholesaler) nailed my bedroom window shut because I always opened my window...just a couple inches...so I could have fresh air on me while I slept. Okay, maybe it was January in the Lake Michigan snow belt and we were not exactly wealthy and the poor guy wanted to heat the place AND send us to college someday. I really DID try to keep my window closed, but I couldn't. I just couldn't.

So, your inner Wise One said, "Yeah, and how cool is it now that we can ride like 40 miles and not get grounded! We can ride ANYWHERE we want! This completely rocks! Bummer they don't make those cherry lipsticks anymore. Those were sweet! Want to go to the river?"