Eulogy to My Bike

I write to you in a feeling of defeat. Life in Berlin has been good. I haven't been mugged. No unwanted male attention. On a whole, I feel safe and secure in my little town and in Berlin. 

Like most afternoons, I rode the bus home and looked forward to riding my bike to get groceries and do a few other errands. I stepped off the bus and my thought process changed. Instead of seeing my less than beautiful bike, I found a lock around a tree. Yes, that's right gone. Stolen. As I walked home, bitting my tongue I contacted a few people about it. There isn't much hope for me and my bike. So after I cried. Of course, I cried! I cried for the loss of money. For the loss of transportation. For the loss of exercise. 

But I need to remember its materialistic. I am fine. I am healthy. It wasn't a need, it was a want in my life. And to try to make light of the situation, I have written a quick eulogy for my stolen bike. 

My dear, gray ladies bike, you were with me from May 9 until you were taken from my arms on Monday, June 26. You were a fine bike. Your gears seemed a little funny and I was going to take you in for a check-up but no reason to let yourself be stolen. I thought of you as a pet. Just yesterday, we went on our first long ride together. I thought this was the start of a beautiful friendship. I appreciate the small amount of time we've had together. You were always reliable. You carried my groceries home. Always picked me up from a late night out. And even made sure I was never late to catch the bus. Bike, if they may stripe you for your pieces but they can't take away your dignity. And if they just reliant you, I hope you get sprayed with navy blue or black with gold trim. Real outstanding like you deserve. I hope wherever you are I hope are well oiled and rode often.  You will be remembered with warm thoughts. And ever time I need to go somewhere or I'm waiting, I'll think if only I had my bike. And it will be hard to move on and buy a new bike. I'm not sure if I'll trust again. R.E.i.B. ~ Ride Easy in Berlin. 

In other news, the city is buzzing. We finally play our first game of the World Cup tonight. The big event has even affected school. The kids are excited. They can't think of anything else as they show up in their jerseys to support their country. Every where I look I see red, yellow and black. I have not yet given in to buying a shirt or flag yet but I will happily watch the game and cheer on. I'm really looking forward to it! 

And I've been meaning to tell you about the bombing I lived through the other night. Just go along with me here.... The other night I woke at 2 am to two loud BOOM BOOM! The house shook. But I thought for sure I must of dreamt the bomb like sound. So I snuggled back up and went to sleep. Next thing I know at 4 am, same thing BOOM BOOM! As the house shook, I thought for sure it was going to crumble on top of me as all I could do was stare at the ceiling. I didn't know what was going on or what to do. I opened up CNN to search for bombs dropping on Berlin. Nothing. Next I googled, "loud noises in Berlin". You would think that something would pop up. No just music groups and studies. Last but not least I opened my weather app where it showed a picture of a gray cloud with a blot of lightning. This made more sense than a bombing but my 4 am self did not hear rain and I was a bit tried. 

So Germany just finished playing with a score of 4-0 in our favor. The first game is crazy enough I can't wait for more intense games. By the way, Thomas Müller has been my favorite player since the last World Cup. So glad I picked a winner! 

The thoughts if only I had my bike have started. Tonight it was if only I had my bike I could be home by now. And if only I had my bike I could sleep an extra five minutes. I'll be home in twenty days. Once I'm back I'll decide then when I want to buy a bike. 

Sad in Berlin tonight.