...Insignificant, almost unnoticeable to the steady blaze of traffic speeding by; people on their way to work, brunch, yoga class, the coffee shop… now EVERYTHING and EVERYONE stops for me.
 
I am a crossing God.
 
22nd Ave parts. My safe passage down the middle, steely mechanical beasts on either side of me, brought to a complete standstill by a wave of my hand, a push of a magic silver button.
 
I am a crossing God.
 
Later on I scrawl onto my strip of paper, just under 7th St and the stubby little arrow a “15th Ave” and under that “8th St” where I’ll next head onto “7th Ave N” before turning left onto “MLK Jr St N”… and catching the bike lane down to the “Pinellas Trail.” I place this piece of paper around my bike’s handlebars, using the envelope’s adhesive to attach the strip loosely to itself, forming an “unbreakable and the safest route possible” circular directional covenant for me to follow to and from work each day.
 
Zero deviation.
 
Two crossing buttons along my route.
 
Both of which illuminate immediately, with a single touch.
 
Two silvery discs that give me the ability to part traffic, to bring everything, even if for a brief 15 seconds, to a complete and utter stand still, to effectively stop time in my little circle.
 
Safety.
 
I am a crossing God, with my papery circle of unwavering route safety and efficacy, with my bright orange helmet and matching sunnies, a little blip in a big city… for 60 seconds each day: I am a crossing God, and with me: time stands still.