Saturday, March 07, 2009
A Day for Lovers

Today, the first truly warm day of the year, was met by throngs of couples deciding to absorb some sunshine. One such couple decided a joyride on their motor scooter would be the best way to pass the time. I can only assume they were enjoying themselves when they were struck by a car not twenty feet from where I stood with my bike, drinking coffee. They became airborne, still holding onto each other as they landed on the side of a parked car and fell to the ground.
I reached into my pocket for my cell phone, when I noticed at least 5 other pedestrians doing the same. I put my phone back and went over to help the injured couple when I noticed another 5 pedestrians already huddled around the scene. As I approached I could see the driver's face. The woman was crying, her face scraped and just beginning to bleed.
Having been struck by several cars in my lifetime, I couldn't help but put myself in their shoes. I thought about that moment of blankness you feel, understanding an impact has occurred but being unable to react to the shock. I thought about laying in the road afraid to move, slowly becoming conscious of the pain. I thought about what I would want that guy walking his bike while drinking coffee to do. I walked away.
A block down the street the view of the scene was obscured by parked cars. The only way you could tell the incident had occurred was the scooter laying in the road, and the small crowd beginning to gather around it. Patrons of an outdoor cafe craned their necks to see what was going on.
"Cute scooter" said one such diner.
Two blocks away happy couples were snapping smiling pictures of each other in front of a statue of a bulldog. An old man stroked his lap dog, noticed the coming clouds and raising winds, and began packing up the remainder of his sidewalk sale
Despite the blood, the most disturbing aspect of this thrilling moment must have been the biker drinking coffee, calmly walking away and thinking about what to write in his blog.