Bonnie is one of my best friends here in the Netherlands. We spend an inordinate amount of time together. Although there have been times when we haven’t been the nicest to each other (like the time I locked her out in the rain or the time she pushed me against a shop window) we always make up in the end. We’ve also been through a lot together: getting caught out in storms, getting lost and finding our way again, exploring new areas and taking trips together.
To be honest, Bonnie was one of the things I dreaded most about coming here. I just wasn’t sure that we’d mesh as her lifestyle is so different from the one I had back in the US. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to handle her. The first few weeks together weren’t easy. And let’s just say we didn’t exactly hit it off the first time I met her.
But since then, Bonnie has introduced me to a whole new world. One I had never spent much time in because it just didn’t fit who I was. Now, its such a huge part of me and I can’t imagine my life without it. She’s helped me begin to lead a healthier lifestyle and she’s taught me to be more independent. I like to think that we’re invincible.
If I were to leave the Netherlands, Bonnie is one of the things I would miss the most. I already miss her whenever I go away, no matter how long I’m gone. Yet she’s always there waiting for me when I get back so we can go off on our latest adventure. It’s funny that the part of living here I thought I would dislike the most has become something I now can’t live without. Bonnie and I have known each other for about a year now, and I can honestly say that it’s been the best year of my life. And Bonnie has a lot to do with that. I hope that we have many more years together, and wherever I end up, if Bonnie’s still around, I’ll be taking her with me.
Who would have thought that I’d end up feeling this way about a bike? I certainly didn’t.
Bonnie the Bike
