The last time I rode with PigPen was a trying mission: SCUL Day 2005. A group of thirty-nine pilots set course for the Arnold Arboretum, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of our beloved gang. Some pilots had indulged in more than their fair share of liquid steering dampeners, and it was making it tough to keep the battalion cohesive. In fact, it almost came to an inter-gang physical confrontation, which is a very rare thing.

There seemed to be no end to mechanicals, from flat tires, to broken chains – even the music system was suffering. I recall taking the stereo off my ship and rigging it to another, only for it to liberate itself and smash to the ground ten minutes later. It seemed we had to stop every 300 yards. All this was happening on our big anniversary, and it was seriously taking its toll on our group's morale.

But not for PigPen.

We were re-crossing the Jamaica Way, an insanely busy street for its tight curves. We were crossing in the crosswalk, but the entire group was by no means in any state to make it cohesively; we were certainly not at our finest. The crosswalk signal was ending, and we were more strung out than the Make-Way-For -Ducklings. I anticipated the blaring of angry car horns, as it was bars-closing o'clock.

Yet I heard no such horns; what I did hear was the authoritive voice of a Boston police officer from his loudspeaker. What he said was unexpected:

“Get some clothes on, Girl!”

I turned around to see PigPen, stripped down her bra and underwear, struttin' her stuff on the back of our tandem. She was blocking the green light, police car and all, shakin' it to the disco that we had managed to resurrect for a few brief moments. None of our setbacks had had any adverse effect on her disposition; she'd intended to have a blast on this ride, and that's exactly what she did -with style and fearlessness.

I try to keep the sprit of PigPen with me, particularly on those ill-fated missions when the mechanicals and injuries pile up, and the the whole thing gets to trying my patience. She was strong in life and keeping her spirit with me gives me an acute focus on the things in life that are worth living for.