GUILT TRIP

 
A Cleveland Jewish News columnist regularly writes self-help pieces about how to enjoy life. Like go fly a kite, chase fireflies, take a walk. All good ideas. But the articles make me feel guilty because I’m usually sitting in a La-Z-Boy reading the columns.

How many times can I fly a kite?

I don’t envy the columnist. It’s hard to write a weekly column. And lately there’s a somewhat-new Cleveland Plain Dealer writer who chronicles her robust personal life. She joined an adult swim team. She ate a funnel cake with her kids. She played USTA tennis.

I can’t argue with any of that. Instead, I’ll guilt-trip you . . .

This month I rode my bike to Chagrin Falls and back, 24 miles. I didn’t walk up the Shaker Boulevard hill. I’ve been doing this ride annually for 48 years, and I’ve been riding the same bike — a 10-speed Kabuki Super Light, which isn’t super light. I bought the bike at Heights Furniture & Toy for $169 in 1978. The Super Light is older than my kids and my marriage.

Does that bike trip makes you feel bad? If so, now you know how I feel reading the other writers.

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Yidd Cup concert tomorrow (Thurs. Aug. 20), 7:30 pm, at the Wain Pavilion, Park Synagogue, 27500 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pipes, Ohio. Free. The Wain Pavilion is an outdoor, covered venue, like Blossom Music Center, but smaller. Seats are provided. Donations encouraged to Magen David Adom.