This is all a lot to think about!
Thanks to everyone for their insight and encouragement. It was exactly what I needed.
When my mother asked what I was so furiously typing about (I am a fast typist!), I told her that I was researching a bike as a new form of exercise/recreation. She mentioned that my uncle had a few bikes in the shed and apparently some of them actually belonged to us. My mother is going to attempt to bring me the women's mountain bike next weekend when she comes to visit.
I'll take a photo of that bike or at least see if there is some sort of model number somewhere! If it will carry me down to the park and back a few times at least, it will be worth it to start out.