The Bicycle With 9 Lives

My bicycle was stolen, again. And I don’t mean another bicycle I own was stolen. No, I mean the same bicycle was stolen for the third time. This time I don’t think the universe will be so good as to give it back to me.

See, my rough-around the edges but very nice diamondback bicycle was given to me several years ago by a friend who’s neighbor found it in a run-down garage. No one was using it and I needed a new bicycle. It was a fabulous gift.

I’m not the only one who thought this bike was a great present. A neighbor who lived in the building next door to mine also had their eyes on my bike. When I happened to be out of town for a month, this neighbor decided the bicycle was up for grabs. My subletter alerted me to the fact that my bicycle had been taken from where it was locked. When I returned I quickly discovered it behind my neighbor's building. The frame had been dented when the lock was removed. That was the first time it was stolen.

The second time happened when it was parked on the corner near my building. Perhaps, I hadn’t locked it fully. I asked my neighbor if they had seen it around. After a week, magically my neighbor discovered it in front of the dollar store. I was relieved it was found. I was back on the road. The universe wasn’t ready for the bicycle yet.

But then I got arrogant. I parked the bicycle outside of a shopping mall. I went to purchase a new pair of running shoes and say hello to my friend who gave me this bicycle in the first place. When I came out it was gone. I looked through the bikes and didn’t see it. This time, I knew my bicycle was really stolen and not coming back. My heart sank. The universe decided someone else needed it more than me

The bicycle had come into my life as a gift. I’m sure at least a few of its 9 lives were lived before it got to me. My bicycle moved on to hopefully better things. And I’m walking a lot more these days.

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