There are some songs that come on and immediately make me feel like I’m in the movie Juno (minus the teen pregnancy and all-star cast of course). I mean this as an incredibly high compliment because the Juno soundtrack is amazing. “Bicycle”, by Frances England, is one such song.

It’s adorable, it’s quirky, and it’s an ode to a classic pastime: bike riding!

Frances England is a Grammy-nominated children’s musician with an interesting backstory. She unintentionally became successful after writing a few songs for her son’s preschool fundraiser. Word of her talent spread far and wide and within just a few years she went from singing in libraries to performing at Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits. Pretty cool! Pret-tyyyyyy pret-ty cool. (I’ve been watching a lot of Curb Your Enthusiasm reruns lately).

“Bicycle” is one of many warm-and-fuzzy songs that takes me back to my own childhood, riding my pink Huffy around with friends, and often taking detours through neighbor’s yards. We used to sneer at the “grumpy old people” that yelled at us for those trespasses, and I’m pleased to say that now, as a homeowner myself, I am 100% a grumpy old person.

I mean really, with how much time, money, and energy goes into the upkeep of property, who wants a line of tire marks going through it? I get it, old neighbors, I totally get it now! I join you in disgruntled homeownership and I apologize.

My 5-year-old got her first official bicycle last year, complete with training wheels, a bell, and a basket full of anxiety for mom. Anytime my kids enter a new phase of potential booboos, I celebrate as well as cringe. I really try to back off as much as possible and give them their freedom, but it’s not easy (even with the cute pink pads we velcro over her entire body).

There really is something magical about riding a bicycle, whether you’re 5, 35, or 65, or another age that doesn’t end in 5. I’d say most of us have a few lovely bike-riding memories in the vault.

Frances England has many more sweet and sentimental songs that we love, including a newer release called “Glue”, which is dedicated to the people we’ve been stuck with during this pandemic. It’s a song that makes you appreciate those special moments, even in the midst of stress and uncertainty. My daughter especially loves the accompanying music video which is a compilation of such moments through fan’s home videos.

“No matter what happens, we stick together like glue” and ain’t that the truth! I’ve had a baby-turned-toddler permanently attached to my hip for 18 months now. The longest I’ve been away from him is about 3 hours and this was pre-pandemic! I’m sure we will have some separation anxiety when we start to emerge from quarantine life, and I’m mostly referring to myself.

While my husband and I have regular conversations about fleeing our house and taking a kid-free tropical vacation, we have been extraordinarily blessed to have this time with them over the past year. But man do I really need a Bloody Mary on a beach after I blissfully wake up on my own at 10am….

Until then we’ll be hanging out at home with our kid-shaped alarm clocks, strong coffee, zero palm trees, and our Frances England playlist.

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Thanks for reading!