For Me, December 2nd is Jay Keddy Day

I drive by Ghost Bike a few times a week. The little white bike stands silently with flowers, photos and notes attached. Cars and trucks rush by. Ghost Bike sits there and calls out to me. I cannot ignore the prompting as it urges me to ponder the meaning of my existence every time I drive by. I am becoming familiar and thankful for Ghost Bike, and at the same time a little bit afraid.

Silent Sentinel

Ghost Bike

Your destiny is to stare me down
To catch my eye and steer my thoughts toward you
As you silently testify
On a narrow gravel strip between
Speeding metal in front, quiet hedgerow behind
A strip too small to call a refuge for the living
Or a safe place for a metallic siren
Such as yourself
Inches from the murderous flow of which I am a part

You are a poignant reminder of life's gamble
"I dare you to try it again," you say.
"I will not so easily be kicked to the sidelines
Made of metal as I am and not flesh and blood,
Nor will I so easily be kicked out of the game
Unlike your precious friend..."

I will remember him.
Innocent, yet kicked out of Life's adventure
In an instant
So rudely and unkindly
So very unexpectedly
So tragically
So violently

We are all left standing in awe
His family, his friends
Colleagues
We circle around your sacred perch
In testimony.

And we feel...

Very helpless
  A little betrayed
    Mostly sad
      Entirely humbled
        Inexplicably angry