To My Bicycle

Yesterday morning, when I left my flat for work, I made a terrible discovery: my bike had been stolen (as had Joe's). What follows is my farewell letter to my dear bicycle.

Dear Bicycle:

O Bicycle, my bicycle, I do miss you! I am so sorry I left you outside and did not bring you in where you would be warm, and dry, and safe. Thinking about you chained up in someone's shed, or sold off to the cash converter breaks my heart and fills me with regret. I never thought I would see the day when you, my beloved, would be wretched from my life by some evil, thieving, villain.

It is true, Bicycle, that our relationship started as one of mere convenience; I was using you for your wheels and the ease and speed you could take me places. But, Bicycle, you quickly wheeled your way into my heart and I loved you, truly. I used to think about the day we would move back to the US and imagine how I could convince Joe to let me take you with us (don't worry, he loved you too. I'm sure he would have agreed) so we'd never have to part. I imagined you and I riding through the streets of some American city, inspiring those around us. Bicycle, I imagined you in my life forever. That is how deep and how true my love was for you.

Through you, Bicycle, I regained my childhood joy of bike riding. You brought back memories of riding bikes around the neighborhood with friends and of bike rides with my dad along the river. You reminded me of the joy of the wind in my face and the exhilaration of making it to the top of a steep hill or finishing a long journey. And, we had so many fun adventures, didn't we, Bicycle? You took me to places I would never have gone without you--we explored Crammond, the waterfront, Dalmeny Estate and the Almond River. We've been over many, many miles of West Lothian. Do you remember all the train rides we took together? And the holiday to the Western Islands we were planning?

Bicycle, you didn't just take me places but you helped me connect to a whole new world of cyclists. I took you to see Dr. Bike, we entered cycle challenges, and were learning all sorts of new opportunities that were open to us now that we had each other. We've even had some great times with strangers--all those times we've ended up stopped at a traffic light with other cyclists and enjoyed the instant connection and even conversation with them as we had a momentary pause in our journey. Bicycle, you really changed my life.

Oh, Bicycle, wherever you are, I hope you know the depths of my love for you. Every time I leave our flat or walk up the street, I hopefully look for you in your old place and my heart sinks every time I realize you are not there. I hope you are safe and happy and that whomever has you is treating you right.

In the words of Celine Dion, "Near, far, wherever you are, I believe that the heart does go on."

Bicycle, I will never stop looking for you. And, I will always love you.

Amanda