CityView Magazine

16 | June 2020 recording his son, moments aer riding his bike without training wheels for the first time. In the cellphone video, the elated little boy practically shrieks, "I feel happy of myself!" "Everybody! I know you can believe in yourself! If you believe in yourself, you will know how to ride a bike! If you don't, you just keep practicing! You'll get the hang of it! I know it!" My husband showed the video to our tenacious 5-year-old who watched it intently, over and over, and then promptly asked that her training wheels be removed. By the end of the same day, aer dozens of run-alongs and push-offs and several epic wipe-outs, she was off and cruising. As her daddy and I watched her whiz around the backyard, he pondered out loud, "You know, I wonder how long it would have taken us to think about teaching her to ride without her training wheels if it weren't for Coronavirus. I would have been at work today." Inspired by our daughter's new enthusiasm and visions of daddy-daughter excursions dancing in his head, my husband made a fateful trip to Hawley's to have his own road bike tweaked. Awhile later, he burst through the front door and called for our 3-year-old son to come out to the driveway. From the back of his SUV, my husband unloaded a shiny, black and orange bicycle, complete with brand new training wheels. "I didn't intend to buy him a bike, but he needs one. He's big enough now. I just saw that one and it reminded me so much of my first bike. Man, I loved that bike…" e look on our toddler's face was just as priceless as his dad's. While hopping up and down, he exclaimed, "A big boy bike! Is it for me?! It's just like Bicycle Man's!" It took some preschool-level questioning to understand that he was actually referring to our neighbor, George Pantelakos, respected family practice physician and avid cyclist, whose bike I realized, upon later inspection, does happen to be orange and black. Since that day, Dr. George and his little neighbor have bonded over their orange and black bicycles. We've spent more time on bikes over the past weeks than we have in our cars, and from the looks of it, we're far from the only ones. Bikers are everywhere! From our front porch, we've noticed families biking by regularly that in the six years we've lived in our house, we've never seen before. It seems that almost every day, another buddy has unscrewed their trainers and joined the "two- wheel club." During a recent phone chat with one of my favorite grandmotherly friends who is distancing at home by herself, she mused over what joy it's brought her to watch through her window as families bike down her street, and young children practice on two wheels in the school parking lot across from her home. A sweet Facebook photo shared by a fellow mom depicted her son's teachers delivering his kindergarten diploma to their driveway, her beaming boy wearing a mini graduation cap atop his bicycle helmet. A local friend whose father owns a bike shop in Wilson commented that business for him is booming like never before, and I like to hope that the same has been true for Fayetteville's own cycling retailers. I think that for many of us, whether learning to ride for the first time or rediscovering a favorite childhood pastime, our bikes have represented freedom and openness at a time when we've all felt so profoundly restricted and confined. At the end of each day, as I apply Neosporin and Band-aids to little skinned knees and elbows, I say a prayer of thanks for the two bicycles that have brought so much happiness and entertainment to my kids. Ride on, road warriors. 3 DISC JOCKEY & KARAOKE ENTERTAINMENT YOU COME FIRST! Our approach is to find out what YOU want. Whether elegance and sophistication, or high-energy excitement is desired, we will make it happen. TALENTED DJS & MCS! Enthusiastic attitude, extensive music knowledge, and comprehensive skills in event coordination make our entertainers second to none. We will create the atmosphere you desire, and we always do it with class, making you and your event the center of attention. MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC! With a huge clean lyric in-house library of over a million titles, every musical appetite will be satisfied at your event. From the 1940's "Big Band" era to the latest hits, even to international music, there is something for everyone. We will cater the music to your tastes and needs. You and your guests can even make music requests prior to the event via our website. CUTTING EDGE EQUIPMENT! Our state-of-the-art sound systems are crystal clear at any volume level. We have the largest selection of lights and special effects available for your individual needs. • Highly Skilled and Reliable DJ Entertainment • Professional Masters Of Ceremony • Uplighting To Beautify Your Venue • On-Line Song Requests • Dance Floor Rentals • Planning & Coordination • Event Design • Controlled, Clear Sound • Fun-Filled, Elegant Events • Crowded Dance Floors photo by: Carolina Mediastar facebook.com/fivestarentertain pinterest.com/fivestarfaync twitter.com/fivestar_NC PHOTO BY: George Joell 3 Photography WEBSITE FACEBOOK © 2014 FIVE STAR ENTERTAINMENT facebook.com/fivestarentertain pinterest.com/fivestarfaync twitter.com/fivestar_NC 910.323.2409 The Special Event Production Company Professional DJ Services Audio-Visual Rentals Photo Booths Karaoke Lighting Monograms Event Design Video Dance Parties Dance Floor Rentals Planning & Coordination COMING IN JULY Fayetteville's Gray Hurley, a UNC-Chapel Hill senior, reflects on the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. We check out a DIY wooden sign workshop at Board & Brush

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