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Posted on Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 9:24 a.m.

My husband's fashion statement to the nicest town in the world

By Heather Heath Chapman

My husband likes to ride his bike to work, even in the winter. This has been a source of contention between us for years. He wants the exercise, but I don’t want him to get frostbite (or hit by a car). That he always wears a helmet brings me only a small measure of comfort.

Most mornings, I walk downstairs to find him, helmet on head, tucking his pants into his socks. I offer to give him a ride, and he politely declines. I ask him to be careful, and he promises he will.

A few weeks ago, after the first real snow of the year, we went through our morning routine — helmet, socks, careful. Then I left the house before he did. What follows here is an account of his journey to work that day.

He strapped on his backpack and got his bike out, but he discovered that the snow was too slippery for riding. He tried to call me, but I didn’t answer. So, he put his bike away and started walking toward the university. It would take him about 40 minutes to get to his office.

When he got halfway down our street, a neighbor called out from her front porch.

“Good morning!”

My husband smiled. We’d just returned from a long trip to Sweden, and Swedish people aren’t terribly friendly. It’s not that they’re unfriendly — not rude, not mean — it’s just that they’re mostly silent. They don’t thank you if you open a door for them, for instance. They certainly don’t call out from porches.

So my husband, who was already glad to be back in the States, suddenly felt even gladder. He offered a greeting of his own, and he gave a little wave.

At the end of our street, he encountered another neighbor. This woman was shoveling her driveway. When she saw my husband, she stopped and leaned on her shovel. She asked, “How are you today?”

“Great!” my husband replied. He assumed she was inquiring because she hadn’t seen us since our Swedish trip. So he added, “I’m happy to be home!”

“Well, that is nice,” the neighbor said. “That’s really, really nice. Take care now.”

“Okay!” my husband said. He was aware that he was adding exclamation marks to everything he was saying, but he couldn’t help it. He was feeling really special.

He crossed over Stadium Boulevard and headed toward campus.

(That evening, he explained that a typical bike ride always leaves him with a grumpy attitude. The bike lanes are full of snow, maybe, or someone will club him with a car door. So, he said, this walk on this day was giving him a sense of hope.)

When a college-age guy shoveled some snow out of the way and warned him to “be so careful,” my husband decided, I am going to walk to work more often.

After a man he’d never met told him to have a good day, my husband began walking with (he admitted it later with his hand over his eyes) a jaunty bounce to his step.

The people in this town certainly are nice, he thought to himself.

After two or three more friendly greetings, he felt overwhelmed with love of home and country.

And when, as he was passing the law school, a stranger pulled her car to the curb and asked if he needed a ride, my husband made this mental note: America is awesome, and Ann Arbor is the most awesome city in it.

“No thanks!” he said to the stranger, again with the exclamation mark.

Then, from the law school to his office, he bounced and grinned and hummed the “Star Spangled Banner.”

As he was approaching his building, he glimpsed a reflection in the glass doors. Who the heck was that guy?

He glanced over both shoulders and realized he was the only person around. Then he stepped a little closer to the glass, and he understood what he was seeing.

ChapmanHelmet

It was a guy with his pants tucked into his socks, wearing a helmet on his head.

Unfortunately, the helmet in question is neither sleek nor sporty. He bought it in Sweden, and it’s rounder than a typical American helmet. More bulbous.

No, the helmet my husband wore on the 40-minute walk from our house to his office wasn’t the kind of helmet that said, I’ll be riding a bike very soon, and I’ll be going super fast.

What the helmet said was, I’m not very coordinated, and I like to wear a little extra protection, in case I fall down.

“You walked all that way wearing your bicycle helmet?” I asked, when he finished the story.

“I did,” he said. “And I was wearing a stocking cap underneath it.” Then he modeled the ensemble for us, and the kids collapsed in hysterical giggles.

“Well,” I said, “you were right about one thing.”

“Was I?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said. “The people in this town certainly are nice.”

Heather Heath Chapman lives in Ann Arbor with her husband and two children. You may reach her at heatherchapman1@me.com.

Comments

ViSHa

Sun, Feb 20, 2011 : 3:59 p.m.

while i can understand how many have found humor in this story, if you had a child who was required to wear a "funny helmet" for neurological testing, it might not be so funny.

Olof Eriksson

Sun, Feb 20, 2011 : 1:11 p.m.

Thank you for all good laughs you keep giving us, we really enjoy reading your column but we have one little objection!!! ;-) Swedes are not that silent at all, everybody, and I mean every single person you meet outside when you are out walking in our village says Hi and talks to you, even if you don't have a goofy helmet on your head - sorry fashion device is the right word :-) But you are absolutely right about the fact that Ann Arbor is one of the nicest - maybe the nicest city in the states, Ann Arbor has a very "European" feeling, AND the citizens seems to prefer cars like Honda and Prius, instead of the big gas hogs that seems to be in majority in many other American cities. And another thing that is quite unusual (read European) about Ann Arbor is the fact that people is out walking and biking! If you are out walking in lets say Minneapolis, then everybody looks suspiciously at you, you could really see what they are thinking "there car must have broken down - poor people" - but they are not talking to you. O and our son Robin wanted me to tell you that Ann Arbor also have the BEST Root Beer in the states!!! // Olof - Sweden

alnan

Sat, Feb 19, 2011 : 9:11 p.m.

Heather, Welcome back to snowy Ann Arbor, Enjoyed your blogs from Sweden. Keep up the good work and humor. I love it!!

A2comments

Sat, Feb 19, 2011 : 1:47 p.m.

Great story to read first thing in the morning!

Angela Verges

Sat, Feb 19, 2011 : 12:21 a.m.

LOL! I laughed out loud before I even reached the end f the story.

A2K

Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 9:43 p.m.

Hahah! Awesome story. I must relate. My mom worked at UM hospital years ago...I was around 6-7 years old and learning to ride a bike. Mom was very-aware of the danger of head-injuries, especially from bike accidents, so she brought me some "medical grade" head protection from work. It was a helmet for "special kids". It was huge, beige, with tape on the top, a padded chinstrap, and lots of scuff marks. It made my head look like it could manufacture gravity. I had to wear The Helmet every time I rode my bike. I tried to get rid of The Helmet, tucking it down in the garbage in the garage - but it was resurrected by my father. The neighbors all thought I was a special kid. Fortunately, I outgrew The Helmet and got a proper Bell bike version. BUT! The Helmet lived on. I have a younger sister, 6 years my junior. She was not required to wear The Helmet when she learned to ride a bike, but when I was learning to drive, she refused to ride in the car with me unless she got to wear The Helmet, for safety. :O)

lynndee

Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 6:06 p.m.

I always enjoy reading your articles but this one cracked me up! I only ride my bike to work in the nice weather, but walking is definitely less nerve-wracking than biking. And, yes, wearing a bike helmet off the bike does look quite goofy! Thanks for making me laugh.

Jeff_M

Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 5:42 p.m.

That was hilarious (exclamation point) I loved the picture with the helmet, can we next see a video of "a jaunty bounce"?

Robin Peterson

Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 4:25 p.m.

Heather, you've done it again - this was laugh-out-loud funny! (And yes, your husband is a very good sport.)

Bertha Venation

Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 4:08 p.m.

Great Story Heather! Made me laugh and really brightened my day! Thank you.

spm

Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 4:07 p.m.

That was the best laugh I've had in a while. I ride my bike to work in the winter also and have had similar experiences. Once, when I came home from a snowy ride, I decided to start shoveling the sidewalk before going inside. After putting the bike up on the porch, I got the shovel and spent the next 20 minutes shoveling away before finally going indoors, and that's when I realized it, I still had my helmet (and winter hat on beneath it) on along with my nice bright neon orange vest and my pant leg still secured with a rubber band. Truly, the minute you step away from your bike with your gear still on you end up looking like you belong on the short bus.

5c0++ H4d13y

Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 3:18 p.m.

I always get a chuckle from cyclists that wear their helmet away from their bike. They must be worried they are going to fall. From now on I will stop removing my motorcycle gear when I go into stores. I'll be as cool as the The Stig but without in the innate driving ability. Oh wait, The Stig's driving ability is what makes him cool.

Mick52

Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.

Good for him. He is staying healthy, he is saving money, helping the environment and is doing what a lot more people will be doing soon when gas hits $4+/gallon soon.

Rob Oliver

Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.

I laughed out loud as I read this and realized what was happening. Apart from the humor, I like what it says about Ann Arborites. Good stuff!

Barb Roether

Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.

Heather....Thanks for sharing and putting a smile on my face. So glad you guys are back to share your adventures in our kind town. Remember, this is not as bad as having your skirt stuck in your pantyhose after going to the bathroom. Keep sharing!!