You may have seen them in movies or on television - lately I feel I've seen real ones more than ever. The tandem bicycle, usually with mom or dad at the helm and a little child in the back seat - heck I've even seen the triple threat, with an adult up front and two little ones pedaling away in the back.
It's caused me to think about relationships. The well-oiled machine of the tandem bicycle allows for a certain wordless cooperation that feels transcendent. One person does a lot of the work, sure, but he/she gets the companionship and help of the other. There is little if no competition involved, since they are not on separate bikes, racing to see who will make it first round the bend or to the top of the peak. Rather, they are swaying along together - my foot ascends and yours does too; my pace increases and so must yours.
If only our relationships could be like this - forever gliding along together on the same bike, with separate but perfectly timed pedals, going up and down in unison, arriving at the same time to the same destination.
So I discovered that bringing more of the bicycle built for two mentality into relationships is a cause worthy of effort. Why fight against the tide all the time? Who cares if it's wrestling on the telly and not a romantic comedy? Why can we not look at cars instead of art?
Of course, the bicycle must stay steady balanced. This means, of course, taking turns at the front of the bicycle and leading as often as not. But just this idea of steady on, pedaling together, being together, for real, without wishing you were somewhere else, with someone else, doing something different can increase the peace between you and make for a nicer ride through the landscape of your life.
Sure it's a simple analogy but the smoother the turning of the wheels, the farther we go together.
Aimee Boyle is desperate to find a tandem bike to rent immediately.