Friday was the worldwide youth climate strike. I didn’t go. I went to work which was fixing bikes that are used for free programs that teach kids and adults how to ride. I told myself: my work really does help offset climate change. So it’s better for me to go to work than to the […]
Tag: bikes
More astonished
A few weeks ago I was alone, pushing my bike up a very, very steep gravel hill somewhere in southern Vermont on a lovely Wednesday afternoon. Sounds nice, yes, but I was not having a good time. I’ve been sad. (Sad?) Depressed. On and off for a while. Months? It’s not a big deal. It’s […]
On balance
These are how my summer days are going: in a nearby park in partial shade I teach kids how to ride bikes. Two, maybe three groups per day. I put sunscreen on everywhere but especially in the folds of my ears, the inside elbows, the backs of my hands. The kids on bikes: they’re pushing […]
Sweaty hands
A few days ago I was riding my bike in Manhattan and a cyclist pulled up next to me and I was surprised to see two big, insulated caves that he had to reach through to grasp the handlebars. This attached glove situation (also called bar mitts?) is common especially on delivery bikes. But it […]
Missed connection
I went to a bar alone. I sat next to a man who I thought was with the two women on the other side of him, because they were chatting nicely, but it turned out he was alone too. We did not talk for several minutes, but his drink looked good so I asked him […]
You’re welcome for the tampons
I thought my period was over. But it wasn’t. Which I was suspicious of sitting in the office chair and was sure of when I went to the bathroom to find blood soaked through my underwear and my light wash jeans. I cleaned up the best I could and used a wad of toilet paper […]
My unhealthy relationship
I had a traumatic experience this week. Actually…I had a couple traumatic experiences this week, among them the guy who rolled down his car window to ask if I was wearing jeggings, and I’m angry about this and other things and I’ve been taking out my anger on cars as usual. When they invade my […]
Things people say to me when I’m riding my bike
Man on the street: Nice bike boy! I look around. There are no other bikes. This man must be talking to me. He is now thirty feet behind me. I yell back: I’m a girl! Man in a car: Hey. I ignore. Man: Hey! I ignore. Man: Hey! Me: Yes? Man: Do you work at […]
I am a mean person
I am a very nice person. You know this already. Because you told me: Anne, you are so nice. Anne, you are so calm. Anne, no one could ever hate you because you are so nice. And I say to you, thanks for the compliments. And I say, you’re right. (Or you were right.) I […]
The Pope was here
On Thursday night last week I had plans to see a play in Harlem. I was going to ride my bike. I live in Crown Heights, in Brooklyn. I allotted myself an hour and a half to ride there. I would leave at 6pm for the 7:30 play. I doubled checked the address right before […]
Anne Foster 