Love and Healing for LIZA!

It is strange and frightening what happens in life. We like to think we have control; we don't! We like to think we can move through life with routine and predictability, but then life throws a curve ball! We like to think that the one's we love will always be there and will always be safe, and this too is not always the case.

Enjoying life and doing the things we love is something we tend to take for granted. Although realistically we know bad things happen, it's not a constant thought in our minds until it happens to us, or someone close.

The leader of the pack... a motorcycle pack... Liza is ours. She is the oldest and most experienced rider, and with her light hearted and fun personality can assemble a group of people for an event or a party in a heartbeat. She has so many friends, people who love her with a genuine spirit. She touches so many people more deeply than she could ever realize.

Liza was about to join one of the biggest of motorcycle packs for an experience like no other. Dykes on Bikes traditionally lead the pride parades, and San Francisco can have as many as 450-500 bikes. Liza was headed there to participate in the festivities when the worst fear of every biker came to fruition; a crash.

Liza's number one Angel, watching over her for the last 22 years, was with her in that moment when the 5 ton truck came into her lane without shoulder checking and knocked her into the air at 110KPH, or about 70MPH. As she sailed through the air watching her bike continue down the highway end over end, her Angel surely picked her out of the sky and placed her down as gently as she could. As a result, Liza has no internal or head injuries... a miracle. It is a miracle she survived. She is, however, badly broken.

Death wasn't in the cards, thankfully, nor all the other things that could and should have been, but weren't. The officer on the scene went to the emergency room and told Liza directly, "You should be dead!"

"Serendipity," Liza always says, everything happens for a reason. She wasn't meant to go to California right now, there is something else for her. She wasn't meant to die either, yet the experience of being in the air, and knowing she was needing to land, gave her a clear sense of it being the end. It was not. Her Angel confidently guiding the outcome.

Behind her on that highway witnessing everything... in one car a paramedic; in another car a cop. All instantly on the scene jumping into action, caring, helping, comforting, reassuring. Placed there at the right time... no coincidence.

Shredded leather, no road rash, life saving helmet. It was cool weather, so Liza wore all her gear. We always wear our gear, Liza does not. She did on June 14th, and will forever more. A poster child for her brand of helmet the medics tell her. They cut it off and her head is perfect. A concrete barricade two feet high, now bearing a trail of helmet paint, saves her from being projected into oncoming traffic; life saving. Thank you BC department of highways!

Scared to ride again she tells me. I know. I look at my bike in the garage and wonder... could it be me? Could it be Tanya? Would we survive like Liza? I shake the thought from my head and vow to ride soon before the fear takes hold. Liza too will ride again; I have faith. Maybe all together... San Francisco Pride 2009. Safety in numbers!



Camera phone picture from the hospital.


The ANGEL watching Liza from above.


Me with Liza in 2002.


This was the beginning of my love of riding.


Bike show 2003. Liza did buy this bike :o)


Dolphin - A symbol of healing. Mexico 2004.


ANOTHER new bike! July 2005. Who knew then that this would be the bike she crashed on?


Us again!


In true Liza form! Vancouver Pride 2005.


Always celebrating something. Celebrate life!


Justin and Liza - May 2007. New life; pure love.


Liza with my partner, Tanya, at our house warming party - June 9th 2007


Housewarming. Annie, Tanya and Liza.


Calgary Pride - June 10th 2007. Four days before the crash.


Celebrating Pride June 10th 2007

We love you Liza... heal and be whole, and depend on us to support you all the way. We want you back in our city and sharing our home while you recover. We miss you and hope you can come back soon.