Up like a sun and down like a pancake

This post aims to explain the meaning of the Swedish proverb above.

Years ago a friend told me the story about the little calf. Overjoyed he ran out from the barn in the early spring, to walk on grass and see the sun for the first time in his short life. He jumped up and down, somersaulting high in the air.

That is how I felt Sunday on my first bike ride this spring. Uggli started once the battery was re-charged and I rode off with a silly smile on my face – the day was perfect for it – warm winds and sun. A guy at the petrol station had the same stupid grin on his face, and we were both so overly excited we shouted although we had turned the engines off and had a civilized conversation about the make and year of our wheelie toys.

That first bike ride is always the most dangerous one: filled with adrenaline and joy you set off on a fast moving machine you haven’t even seen for a few months. Slightly out practice and in all the excitement it can be difficult to measure speed, distance and determine how sharp the bends are.

It must have been pretty much the same for the little calf. He was so happy he behaved like a veritable circus calf, if there is such a thing. Unfortunately he had a bad landing, got stuck with his hoof and broke his leg so badly that the farmer had to put Little Happy Calf to death.

I am still here as you can see. I didn’t exactly have an accident. Could have, but didn’t. But the exhaust pipes look like metal spaghetti, and the bike is currently parked in somebody’s garden on a Stockholm island called Lilla Essingen. I messed up. It’s a long story - won’t bore you with ithe details.

As I took the train home, pretty annoyed, I came to think of the poor little calf. I only broke some metal after all.

Upp som en sol och ned som en pannkaka

[Regarding the picture that I *hrm* borrowed: I couldn't find one with a calf and a pancake.]