2nd Memorial Ride

I decided to do a 2nd Memorial Ride this morning.

It felt powerful to ride with nearly 75 other people yesterday to honor Anne McLaughlin. But with the last minute goings-on, I didn’t get everything I needed yesterday.

Before yesterday’s ride, little, last minute things came up that took my attention. There was greeting and welcoming everyone. One woman needed her seat fixed, and another her kickstand. Another wanted to talk about an event she wanted the Bike Co-op to be a part of. And, I had to come up with some talking points. I kept putting that off during the week, because I just wasn’t even sure what to say. I guess I came up with something. I hope people didn’t think it was too lame.

But with all that going on, my head wasn’t completely in the space of emotions. The moment of silence and when Jeff Allen spoke both took me there. But those moments were brief. Then it was back to business.

So today I took it slow. I stopped at Anne’s ghost bike. Before leaving on the ride, I made a little something to leave behind. Years ago. someone gifted me a beautiful clay heart. Over time, something weird happened with the glazing, giving it a weird color. In the realm of Marie Kondo, it no longer brought me joy. Yet, I didn’t want to toss it. Turns out I was saving it for Anne.

I spray painted it and stamped it with a bike. (Since it is curved, it didn’t stamp perfectly.) On the other side I wrote, “Rest in Power.”

I left the heart in Buddha’s offering cup at the ghost bike site. I said my condolences to Anne as I stood there, recognizing she didn’t deserve this. Committing to working towards making this world a place where reckless, avoidable crashes don’t happen. Tears poured down my face. I sobbed.

I then pushed the button for the crosswalk and rode my bike across, crying the entire way. I turned my bike around, pushed the button again, and crossed back to the other side. I cried for a goodly bit after leaving that intersection.

I continued the path we rode yesterday but turned north instead of south at 1st Street N. A couple of impatient drivers passed me when they shouldn’t. At 40th Ave N I turned into North Shores.

I saw the below mural, and I thought, “yes! This is the point!” We are all family. So be careful. Drive mindfully and slowly. Stop killing pedestrians and cyclists just because you are in a hurry. We can’t stop death, but we can stop avoidable crashes.

I continued on my way. As I pulled away from the mural, Queen’s “Bicycle Race” began playing. I needed the positive switch. By the time I got home, I felt a bit better.

My heart still goes out to Anne McLaughlin’s family. I didn’t know her, but I do know she is as wonderful as all of my family and friends are. I know her loss will be felt deeply by those who knew her best, but her death is also activating people to push for change. I hope we can make that a reality.