Driving to Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, to visit my in-laws, I had just crossed the Mississippi River into the town of Louisiana when a garage sale caught my eye—specifically, the bike you see in the picture.
The garage sale was on the left side of the street, so I turned around and pulled up to the house. A few people browsed the tables, but my attention was locked on that bike.
An older gentleman stood nearby, watching as I admired it. When I asked if I could take it for a spin, he smiled and said, “Go ahead.” He didn’t hesitate, didn’t question me—just handed me this piece of his past with quiet trust.
“It’s a Red Flyer,” he said. “I’ve had it for a long time.”
The moment I got on the bike, it felt right. The seat had a gentle spring to it, the tires were solid, and it glided so smoothly, stopping on a dime.
For $35, the deal was made with Otis Atkins of Louisiana, Missouri.
Otis couldn’t have known that day how much joy that bike would bring.
My wife and son had taken the Amtrak train down the week prior. So, my arrival with a bike was not expected.
I shared the story with my wife and in-laws and my son and I rode it around during our whole stay.
He’d hop onto the crossbar, trustingly holding on to the handlebars as we soared down the road, his laughter ringing through the air. That old Red Flyer, we named “Red” became part of our summer, a simple pleasure that turned into a cherished memory.
Sebastian has since grown up and moved several states away, but Red is still with me. Every time I see Red, those summer days come rushing back—the warm breeze, the sound of my son’s laughter, the feeling of freedom as we rode together.
Curious about Otis, I later looked up his name. Two men came up—one with Otis as a first name, another with Otis as a middle name. One passed in 2010, the other in 2021.
May they both rest in peace. And I know that one of them made a difference to us then and now as a memory.
It’s a reminder of how the smallest gestures—a shared laugh, a simple kindness, an old bike passed from one hand to another—can shape a moment that lasts forever.
We all have the power to touch someone’s life, even in ways we may never realize.
And just as we leave our mark on others, we, too, are remembered—sometimes in ways we never knew.
Small gestures can become lasting memories. Whose life will you impact today?
Coaching for Hispanic Men
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