Maddy’s Story

I’ve been pondering what to name my bike.

Evidently when you own bikes that cost more than your first car (or your second, for that matter) and you’re spending hours a week with it, it’s good for it to have a name.

After much consideration, I’ve decided my bike’s name is Maddy.

Here’s why.

My friend Matthew Scheer passed away on his 31st birthday unexpectedly. It was the year 2000, and the night before we had shared a late night instant messaging session with each other (he lived in Tulsa, I lived in Dallas.) It went something like this:

Matt: Hey, you’re on late.

Anne: Yeah, I saw you were on and wanted to say happy birthday because I’m going to be out all day tomorrow.

Matt: So, I got a bike for my birthday. I can’t wait to take it out. When you visit, we’ll have to go for a ride.

Anne: Definitely. But you know I haven’t ridden a bike since I was thirteen.

Matt: You’ll deal with it. Anyway, we’ll chat soon.

Anne: Have a blast on your ride.

The next evening after a very busy day at work, I had multiple messages on my answering machine from friends saying something happened to Matt. They wouldn’t say what. I finally reached Matt’s best friend, Kelly, and I remember standing in the middle of my living room as he said Matt went for his bike ride and had a cardiac arrest and died. The room around me swirled and it was like I had been sucked out of space and time in a weird vacuum. I fell to the floor. I couldn’t believe it.

My friend Matt died riding his bike on June 8, 2000, on his 31st birthday, from an undiagnosed heart condition.

On June 2, 2010, almost ten years to the date of Matt’s death, and shortly after my thirtieth birthday, I’ll be getting on a bike and riding across the country. It’s insane to think that I had a similar heart condition to Matt’s, but fortunately, mine was diagnosed and corrected.

So, in honor of my friend Matt, my bike’s name is Maddy. That was Matt’s nick name and he hated it.

After Matt’s death we learned so much about him. He secretly volunteered at a few places in Tulsa. He had a tattoo nobody knew about. He was an incredible writer. He had the biggest heart. It doesn’t seem fair that it stopped when it did.

I wrote a poem about Matt’s funeral on my flight home, ten years ago.

silhouettes of black pass by and
flowers fragrant overwhelm
the heavy air of sadness for
you?re gone and in this madness
i close my eyes, remember
when we met upon that december
day and now you?re gone
(not far away)
for on another day we?ll see
each other and embrace just
like there was no other time that
had come between now and the minute
when we said our last goodbye

and now i start to cry

standing for one last time
i gaze upon your face and say farewell
until we meet again, my friend
close your eyes so peacefully rest
your hands folded upon your chest
as silhouettes of black pass by and
flowers fragrant overwhelm

So – Matt, I hereby designate my little Bianchi Vigorelli “Maddy” for you.

(I’d break open a bottle of bubbly on it, but I don’t want to have to clean up the glass later.)

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By the way, on my 30th birthday (which is just around the corner – 2/19!) I’ll have a special way you can contribute to Blood:Water Mission in support of the Ride:Well Tour. Just a heads up…