I wonder if little kids are still surprised when they discover their parents are capable of doing something useful.

Oh sure, when you are a child you count on them to protect, feed and clothe you. That sort of thing. Almost goes without saying.

But kids have been known, at least back in the day, to marvel at the sight of their parents engaged in an activity that did not appear to be just some form of Adult World drudgery.

That happened to me long ago while my family was at a picnic involving the families of men on my father's B-52 crew. It was at a big park in Dayton, Ohio, where, I believe, the Wright Brothers had put their imaginations to good use.

I was about 7 or 8, so I don't remember much. I just recall that, at some point in the convivial proceedings, I looked up and saw my father ride by on a borrowed bicycle.

I had never seen this before and it floored me. My father? Riding a bike? Shouldn't he be home paying bills or muttering about the state of the roof?

I might have mumbled WTF, except that was not part of my 1962 vocabulary.

Of course, I knew my dad was capable of riding a bike. He taught me, after all. And I was now something of an expert.

Still, I guess I thought of the old boy's cycling knowledge as existing mostly in a theoretical realm. I had never considered him actually going for a ride himself.

But there he was, pedaling around the park. Big as you please.

Years later, I would learn that my father had been a child once himself. Who knew? Will wonders never cease.

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