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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Slice

Meeting Randy

I don't know how long it has been going on.

But sometime after I started riding a bike to work in May of 2008, I began seeing him.

Not every day. Not even every week. But if he happened to be outside when I rode through his neighborhood on South Adams in the afternoon, we would exchange greetings.

An older gentleman with white hair framing his ballcap, he was unfailingly friendly.

He would offer encouragement as I approached a part of my ride that's somewhat challenging for me. He would comment on the weather without ever complaining. Et cetera. He was always cheerful.

I had gotten to where I looked forward to seeing him. And I sort of missed him when I didn't.

So today, as I spotted him and we waved, I pulled over toward the sidewalk and stuck out my hand.

I told him I would like to start greeting him by name.

I told him my first name. He told me his.

It's Randy.

He then told me that he used to bike commute to his job at NorthTown. For 12 years.

I asked about his route. (He went through Riverfront Park, then north on Washington past NC, around Corbin Park and then across Division to the mall.)

We talked about how riding home on a bike is a perfect buffer between the office and your non-work life.

Then I was off.

There are a lot of great guys in Spokane. Randy is one of them.



The Slice

The online home for Paul Turner's musings and interactions with disciples of The Slice.