THE VESPA LESSON It is Saturday afternooon and

I am stinging a little after

being reminded this morning by a passionate Vespa Scooter dealer and repairer

about a lesson that I will call

‘The Vespa Lesson’! It all started back in 2006 when I

was excited to be able to

purchase my very first Vespa. One which has given me a lot of joy, until recently…

Use it or lose it! I have to admit that I have always been a bit of a fair weather Vespa rider. In fact I am a bit of a fair weather ‘everthinger’! I am just not into putting myself

through rain, hail and sleet on an unprotected scooter. I would not make a very relaiable postman! Despite that I loved my vespa and for the first couple

of years I would ride it at every opportunity. Then, as happens, the novelty began to wear off a bit and I started to ride it less and less.

Consequently the battery would spasmodically go flat and so I would have to

go and get it recharged which was really quite inconvenient. I did that for a couple of times and then the last time it went flat I just didn’t bother. For the last 12 months or so the poor little Vespa just sat in our garage unregistered,

unloved, gathering dust with a dead battery.

All too late Finally I decided to do something

about it. So yesterday I went to the shop where I purchsed the

Vespa to chat to the owner. Frank is in his 60’s, an Italian

who is very passionate about Vespa’s. In fact his whole life has

been Vespas - he took over from his dad who started this business in 1956. Frank runs a great little

business, he looks after his

clients, but is is fiercely loyal to his Vespas and is very direct, always calling a ‘spade a spade’.

So, I rocked up and explained my predicament to Frank. He didn’t say much; he just rolled his eyes at me, handed me another battery, told me to swap it

with the flat one, ride it in tomorrow and he will fix it up for me. He did say

that it may not be the battery, it may be because it had been left untouched, unstarted and unloved for so long! I left feeling relieved and excited; relieved that I got away with just a roll of the eyes and excited at the idea of riding my

Vespa again!

I got up this morning, gave the Vespa a clean because it was covered with a thick layer of dust and I didn’t dare take to Frank in that condition! I then

changed the battery over then jumped on ready and excited to ride it to Frank… but guess what?... Correct, it still didn’t start! I tried again with no luck. I took the battery out and put it back in, it still didn’t start. I tried over and

over, but it wasn’t going to start. With fear in my heart I rang Frank to explain

the situation and he told me to come and get another battery, this time a brand new one…

The Vespa Lesson

I arrived at about 9:30 this morning and he was already busy with customers everywhere and repairs & servicing to do. I walked in, he didn’t look at me

but he knew I was there. He got up, walked over, picked up a brand new

battery and handed it to me. He then stopped, looked at me and said; ‘If you don’t look after your wife she will leave you. If you don’t look after your Vespa it will stop working!’

He then put his head down and went back to work. I left with my tail between my

legs and firmly reminded of what I will call from now on ‘The Vespa Lesson’! He

was so right because even with the brand new battery the Vespa still wouldn’t start – I had neglected it and it stopped

working.

We all know it, but… How many times have we been told; if we don’t look after our health we will

lose it, if we don’t manage our money we will lose it, if we don’t work well at

our job we will lose it, if we don’t give attention to our relationship we will lose it? In my case I would have to say over and over and over again.

The most important question is; are we willing to wait until we have lost that particular thing before we actually take notice of the ‘Vespa lesson’?

Last week I wrote that; ‘Life is too short to _________’. This week’s article is very similar and really nothing new. So, why am writing

about it again? Because each week, as it gets read, I am hoping that the message will finally connect with even just one person who will take

positive action to make sure that thay do

something now to ensure that ‘their Vespa never stops working’!

Is it your time to learn the ‘Vespa lesson’ and

make the changes you need to make this week so you can enjoy the ride? It most certainly is

for me! Andrew Jobling April 17, 2010 www.andrewjobling.com.au