momma...

ran into these guys Ray and Peter
they were each enjoying soaking in the strong sun
like two snakes warming their cold blood on a rock
this rock being somewhat closer to the center of the street than the curb

always good to catch up with Ray and Peter
both of these guys have done the courier thing for decades
this are not boys... these are men
this is not a phase... this is their life

these guys are couriers
will they always work as couriers?
I guess that is up to them and up to life
right now they are couriers

couriers are kinda like cowboys
yes... I bite my tongue as I think of John Travolta... but I still type it
bicycle messengers are urban cowboys

which had me thinking of that old song, Momma Don't Let Your Babies Grow UP to Be Cowboys

Momma Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Couriers
Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be couriers
Don't let 'em ride bikes and zip around them old cars and trucks
Make 'em be surgeons and congressmen and such

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be couriers
They'll always want to ride their bikes even when it is not a work day
The love for the bike and the love for the ride is not to be competed with

Couriers ain't easy to love and they're harder to hold
And they'd rather give you a beer than diamonds or gold
leather cycling shoes with cycling cleats and old faded messenger bags

And each night begins a new day
And if you don't understand him and he don't die young
You'll probably just ride away or maybe he might just ride away

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be couriers
Don't let 'em ride bikes and zip around them old cars and trucks
Make 'em be surgeons and congressmen and such

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be couriers
They'll always want to ride their bikes even when it is not a work day
The love for the bike and the love for the ride is not to be competed with

Couriers like vomit scented bars, urban park benches
Lots of bicycle stories and lots of bicycle parts, bicycle grease under the fingers from morning til night
And them that ride elevators with em don't understand them

Sometimes won't know how to take him
He ain't wrong, he's just different but his pride won't let him
Do things to make you think he's right

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be couriers
Don't let 'em ride bikes and zip around them old cars and trucks
Make 'em be surgeons and congressmen and such

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be couriers
They'll always want to ride their bikes even when it is not a work day
The love for the bike and the love for the ride is not to be competed with

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be couriers
Don't let 'em ride bikes and zip around them old cars and trucks
Make 'em be surgeons and congressmen and such

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be couriers
The couriers life is only understood and appreciated by couriers
that life is hard it may be a pleasure at times but it is never easy

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be couriers
as modified by joel gwadz on the gwadzilla page