Pedaling around Peoria during the pandemic, Easter 2021

It's Easter morning of 2021, and as usual I went and pedaled around. The sun is well up now as I get myself prepared for my ride, and as usual I stumbled out between 7:30 and 8. But instead of the usual route that I've been taking for months and months, I decided to mix things up a bit, and go through a neighborhood that's north of me that I've always loved, with tall shady trees. You probably wouldn't even know this neighborhood existed, and that's part of what makes it so wonderful. The cars zoom by the main streets, and this neighborhood nods and sleeps.

And it was very pleasant this morning. There is a wonderful feeling there, with the huge lots, and the big ranch-style houses. There are no sidewalks there, but it doesn't matter, the streets are wide and safe. I like it there, although it isn't a neighborhood that I'd care to live in, for a couple of reasons. The first one would be the upkeep on the big lots, and second one is the reason that I avoided this neighborhood last year. I'll see if I can explain.

At some random point in time in 2020 I decided to pedal through this neighborhood, and it scared me, and I'm a white guy. I never saw Klu Klux Klan signs, or burning crosses, but what I did see sent a very clear message. And I guess I'd always known that Arizona has a lot of these people, but I'd never seen it displayed so blatantly. Suddenly the neighborhood looked very different to me, and it was as if I could hear the sound of cracking whips. I'm not saying that everyone in the neighborhood was in favor of voter suppression, or had some type of desire to "Make America Great Again", and all that meant, but there were enough there that I felt sickened, and I rode away.

This morning, however, it was pleasant again. The hate signs are all down, and when I see American flags flying I like to think that these are veterans, or maybe just patriotic Americans like me. I still don't ever stop, and I sure as heck don't ever take out my phone as if I were going to take photos - that's the beautiful Arizona sky in my own backyard at the top of this post. Not a cloud in the sky!

It's Easter Sunday and I'd like to believe that love will conquer hate. Go in peace.

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