I had a sad day.
There are no eventful or tragic happenings underway in my own life, but I’m finding myself aware of a number of deeply painful things happening in the lives of loved ones, plus deep losses and upheaval in our world. Sometimes, that sadness will get under your skin. I felt that throughout the day.
Feeling all of this, in the late afternoon on a warm day, I got on my bike, which tends to be one of my happiest undertakings. I love to feel free, zooming around town. I thought this might help me.
I was just a couple of blocks into my ride when an elder wheeled over to me. “We’re twins!” she said. Sure enough, we had the exact same bike in the exact same color. I asked her her name.
“Sadie,” she answered. (Not her real name) We smiled with each other and then we smiled again for a photo.
The light turned green, and we both took off. I was a bit ahead, but I noticed something. After I would pass people walking on the bike path, in the distance, I would sometimes hear a little, “Ding!” I knew that was Sadie just a bit behind me, passing the people as well. On a sad day, it was comforting to feel like someone was with me, taking a ride, feeling whatever we feel, noticing whatever we notice, and hoping to feel free on our bikes.
Thanks, Samesie Sadie. You made my heavy day lighter.
— Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 