I blame it all on my Mom!

I spent the first 7 years of my life as a single kid, raised by a single mom.  Living on MacDonnal St. in Peterborough, Ontario, my mom's home town, the two of us lived a humble, dreamy little life. My mother is the most incredibly creative, resourceful person I know. She is brave and energetic and limitless in being able to bring her ideas to life within the most modest context. Our entire universe was a product of her imagination and handy work. The furniture we lived on was refinished and upholstered by her, the pictures on the wall were made from wood and books she had cut up and pasted, the clothes we wore she had sewn; even the neighbourhood we lived in was inspired by her. She used to give all the block kids popsicles in exchange for picking up a bag of street garbage and brought the first flower bed to our street. Seriously - she's totally amazing. I love her for everything she is and for everything she is not.   

One of my greatest memories with my mom was riding in the kiddy seat on the back of her bike. It was so freeing and I felt completely in her care. It was a sense of both comfort and adventure which I find rare to achieve as an adult. When I became too heavy for the bike we advanced to a navy blue Vespa scooter and got matching white helmets. For several years this was our thing. A wee scootin duo kickin around the P.Dot. Little did I realize when she decided to sell the Vespa a decade later (after I said, "no way - I won't drive that thing") that it would be one of my greatest regrets. Needless to say, owning a scooter has been something I've promised myself I will one day do to make up for that. 

Funny story. A few years ago now, I did actually buy a scooter. It was a beautiful, fully restored 1964 cobalt blue Piaggo. I bought it from a friend of an ex boyfriend, but not because I was ready, because when I took it for a test drive one day after work (so cleverly in heels and a tight pencil skirt), I flinched on the clutch, stalled, dropped, scrapped and dented it! It was a break it - buy it purchase that ended up sitting in my neighbour's garage for the next year. It sat because I was grudgful and angry at myself for being such an idiot (idiot!!) and also because, I never got around to getting my M2. I eventually sold it to a nice guy from Hamilton, but remained determined.

On this Fifty2First list, to "get my M2", was intended to make my scooter dreams come true. It turns out though, I own a car. A 1996 purple Saturn, notably with over 260,000km and a black matte hood (another funny story you can ask me in person). Not that having a car prevents me from getting my M2 or a scooter, but the terrible misfortune of my expert skills in acquiring parking and driving infraction tickets apparently does. Tickets are expensive when you reach my level.

Perhaps my childhood sense of road riding "comfort and adventure" has something to do with it? I'm too relaxed for how reckless I am. Regardless, the bottom line is that I will not be getting my M2 this year. With lessons, which I obviously need, it would cost over $400. Instead, I have done the right thing and put my available funds toward my ticket collection. Get ready...

Not my proudest moment, but today, for the First time, I paid 6 tickets at once - totaling $343.25. Ouch! That brings my grand total for 2012 to $1234.36!

16 parking tickets
2 court appearances
2 speeding tickets
1 illegal left turn
1 expired plate sticker
1 illegally used hand held communication device

I'm sure this will all warrant a well deserved "Oh Sarah!!" from my mom. Scornful, but accepting. Similar to when I got a nose piercing at age 15, when she was clearly disappointed, but said only that I would likely get hit by lightening (I had braces at the time) and left it at that. Thanks for loving me for all that I am and all that I am not mom! But mostly, for teaching me to laugh at myself no matter what.