We are one week into September and the challenge. As it always does, GCC is proving to be an incredible way to recenter myself around the things that matter most. I've seen deer, and fawn, and turtles, and opossums since we got started! I've smiled more and cried harder on rides this week than I have in a month or so. There are two moments that REALLY stand out to me about this week and I'd love to share one of them with you.
Cyclists have reached a point and time where we talk about "when" we get hit by a car not "if". I thought I had my time this week. I was heading out for a long ride after work on Wednesday and a car attempted to pass me to turn right when a dump truck was taking up most of the road and I was going straight ahead in the lane we were in. She honked the horn and through her hands up. I noticed her window was down and yelled "I have as much right as you to be here!" I had a couple other things happen that day that already had me on the fence and this had me asking if I should scrap the ride and just go home.
I have a GCC playlist. I am so thankful that's what I had playing that day. Because as I was trying to decide whether or not to pack it in and go home..."See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth came on. I caught my breath, immediately started to cry, and just thought...why would I care?
Why would I care that you were in a hurry. Why would I care that a stranger got mad at me. Why would I care about the trivial things that happened that day. Why would I care about any of the things that have been getting under my skin lately.
I care about Grace Mullis. I care about her family. I care about Randy Collins, my best friend's father who just died from cancer. I care about my college friend who has battled and beaten cancer twice now. I care about trans rights. I care about black lives. I care about a free Palestine, a free Congo, a free Puerto Rico, a free everywhere, and a free everyone.
There is a lot to care about out there and that is what I want to see and focus on. The rest of it is just noise. Pedal on.