Listen

I love my bike. It’s a beautiful 2006 Honda Shadow Aero, grey on white. Flaired fenders surrounded by leather saddlebags. Lovely to ride, especially in Arizona.

I believe in God. I believe in spirits. I believe in the afterlife. I believe in guardian angels. I believe in the supernatural. I believe in mystical signs. Hell, I even believe in mystical pizza. I also believe in communication that the human language system cannot fathom.

Feb 6^th, 2007 – I had a few errands to run. One was to file taxes, and the other to head to the bank to make a few deposits. It was such a nice day out, and I knew it would only get nicer, so I decided to take my gorgeous bike out for a drive around town.

I get my errands done, and am headed home. Sitting eastbound on the corner of 5^th and Swan, There are two cars, then a sports bike, then me. I see the light turn green, and put my bike into first gear, still squeezing the clutch. I look up awaiting the extinguishing of 5 brake lights in front of me. The first pair go out; the second pair go out, then I hear a horn, and CCCHSHSHCHSH!!!!!!!

A white matrix headed south on Swan had ran the red light. The buick in front of me caught the matrix right smack in the center of the right front tire. So here I am remembering Dane Cook and his excitement when he finally witnesses a car accident, all the while watching the collapesed suspension and leaking fluid from under the white insurance claim. A light cycles, I weave around the broken glass, and am on my way.

Hmm, shit happens.

Now I am sitting in the right hand left turn lane on Craycroft, wanting to go east on Broadway. A brown Buick LeSabre pulls up in the adjacent lane to the right of me. It’s this woman that looked to be in her mid-50’s, and she looks very lost. It seemed as though she was frantically searching for street signs, when I notice that she is crying in what looked to be sheer terror. Now I have no idea what goes on in peoples lives, but this woman was scared to death. Scared of what, I cannot say, but she was pouring in tears and holding her face in a near panic. The light turns green, and she proceeds on her way.

Hmm, shit happens.

I get my green left turn arrow, and continue on my venture home. I notice a significant amount of chalk on the street infront of a store called Ann’s Sweet Shop on Broadway and Chantilly. I look to the median, and notice a ton of flowers, and two motorcycle helmets. This is when it hit me. I’m talking about almost cracking my helmet from welling up to the extent that I did.

Within 8 minutes, I have witnessed a car accident, a woman sobbing in panic, and the scene of a motorbike double fatality. It all flashes before me in an instant, and becomes very clear. I can handle a near accident, I’ve run off the road twice, and almost been hit by a Suburban. But seeing the running of a red light, and the memorial on the median, and the woman, today is the last day I ride this cycle, because someone, somewhere, is warning me in the scariest way possible. I do NOT want to ignore this message. I WILL NOT ignore this message. I do NOT want to make a widow out of my baby girl’s mother, I do NOT want to take my children's father away, and I do NOT want to be remembered as a flower vase and an empty helmet. I don’t know who or what guided me on the odd route through town, or who or what guided my eyes to witness that which I have this life altering day, but I hear them, and I am listening to them. They know more than I do, and are warning me about something.

Whoever you are, I love you.