The festivities began the Wednesday before the parade when I met with nine wonderful women from Melbourne, Australia. Two of them I had the pleasure of meeting three years ago and they are all from the Melbourne Chapter of the Dykes on Bikes®. These amazing women really and truly got me into the Pride Spirit and I knew this year was going to be special.
Thursday evening I had dinner with an amazing couple , Susan and Fay. Fay had reached out to me weeks before to make arrangements to have me help Susan fulfill an item on her "Bucket List," to ride with the Dykes on Bikes in the San Francisco Pride Parade. They are really a cute and amazing couple and it was going to be my pleasure and honor to make Susan's dream come true.
Bright & Early Saturday morning I headed over to Eagle Rider in SOMA to meet those Aussie Gals again as they all rented Harley's and we headed out for a ride before the San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® "Pink Saturday" party at El Rio. I had to drop out of the ride early because my bike was overheating in the insane SF Pride Weekend traffic around the Embarcadero. I headed over to El Rio to join the festivities. As soon as I get there it's a non-stop session of hugs and kisses as I reconnect with so many people I just love and am so happy to have in my life. Later in the day I was completely broadsided when Vick, the President of the SF Dykes on Bikes® called me up to the stage. She then honored me with a Certificate of Appreciation for my contributions and years of service. This big strong woman was reduced to tears. Everyone could see the stream of tears running down my face. I've never felt so loved and so honored and it will be a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Leaving El Rio I finally had the opportunity to head home and get sleep for the first time in 37 hours. I was going to need it because the next day is the pride parade and you'll find me at the corner of Market & Beale at 7am every year. This year was no exception.
Boy 7am comes quickly when you are tired but there I was, at my normal post, directing traffic and working with the SFMTA to keep people safe and shut down the F-line and the buses. I'd like to thank Denise at the MTA. Denise, you were a Godsend this year and your efforts made this the smoothest parade line-up I've ever been a part of. You Rock!
Around 9:30 Susan and Fay show up and I take Susan around to my motorcycle and walk her through the crowds so she can meet other members of the Dykes on Bikes® that helped make her bucket list dream come true. It's 10:15 and the parade is about to start. The energy of the riders and the crowd is at a boil and the goosebumps are running up and down my arms. Soni, the oldest and dearest member of the SF Dykes on Bikes® gets us all riled up by screaming to everyone to start our engines. This is my favorite part of the parade. Imagine hundreds and hundreds of motorcycles all starting up. The ground is shaking, the noise is insane but the cheers of a million cheering spectators drowns out all the motorcycles. Oh, I just got chills writing that as I recall that amazing moment I cherish so much.
I gave Susan an amazing experience as we rode down Market St. We were one of the lead bikes and I hope she enjoyed herself. I know it was an honor for me to give her a ride and to be a part of the San Francisco Pride Parade during this very important and historic year in LGBT history. Days before the parade the United States Supreme Court gave us our Loving v. Virginia and there was great cause for celebration.
Another year is in the record books but I will be surprised if there will ever be a Pride as amazing and important as this year's. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of it.
