Only The Good Die

young. Today I missed a street and turned
my bike onto the sidewalk to go back. It
was around 5:15 so parking garages were
emptying. I slowed as I reached the entrance
to a particular garage, seeing no cars, I
slowly crossed. Suddenly I look left just in
time to see another cyclist had come around
the corner full speed, not checked the sidewalk,
and was about to t-bone me.
After getting up from the digger relatively unscathed,
I looked at the architect of my fall with what must
have been a look of sheer surprise. I then looked at
my bike, noticed the front tire, and that look probably
changed to one of stunned anger.

Like, what the fluck just happened. I felt kind of
like that guy in the Bud Light commercial must
have felt when the concession stand dude closed
the gate on him.

Dude.

The other guy, after seeing me turn circles in
obvious shock/frustration/annoyance...says...

"Dude, I don't even know. Are you okay? I'm
sorry. Dude, did I do that to your bike? I
don't even know what that costs."

Of course he knew what it cost, his bike was
nicer than mine. He was geared up, and he
had expensive saddlebags hooked expertly to
his bike. He knew what a bike wheel cost.

I probably just continued to look shocked.
A look of sheer joy overcame his face, because
he probably also saw that I was a nice guy,
one who was not likely to start blaming
him for chance and demanding reparations.

Which I didn't. Smirking with victory at this
point, the guy shrugs and says, I only have
twelve bucks, take it. He then says something
about missing his bus and takes off.

I hike 12 blocks in Denver's latest 'blizzard' with
my bike to a place where I know my bus stops.
Of course it was an accident, he was being careless,
but by this time I realized the money I put into
a new wheel and tire would probably equal what
I paid for this bike. I also realized I didn't have
the money to repair my transportation, and that
his twelve bucks wouldn't cover my bus fare for
a week.

I angrily reach into my pocket, find out that he
only gave me 11 bucks, and I needed to break
my change to get on a bus, or pay five bucks
for a ride. I have seven minutes to do this, or
I have to wait another hour for the next bus.
Normally I would have gone into a bar for a
drink and waited an hour.But I left my wallet
at home.

So I sprint to a store, get change, sprint back
just in time to catch my bus. By this time you
could say I was extremely perturbed. Maybe
even slightly pissed off.

I got home and my roommate said he felt bad,
but things could be worse. He had just been the
victim of a hit and run. I looked at him and told
him that he was right. I don't think anything will
be as bad as the time I wrecked my car and
my best friend died.

Even that story won't be half as bad as something
that happened in the world today. Nothing is really
never that bad. I have people I love, and I like
to think people who love me. I can breath, walk
down a street without the fear of being ethnically
cleansed, and see a myriad of colors in a black
and white world.

I wasn't hurt at all by the accident. No head injury.
At least he wasn't driving a car. I'm alive. It's an
excuse to buy new wheels, even though you don't
have the money. I'm alive. That jerk...wait...I'm
alive. Let's build from there.

It's not worth it to be angry. Looking on the bright
side can be a bit more fun. I need to try it more often.

I hope I can get my bike fixed. I hope that guy
caught his bus.