Recently, on my way home from yoga class, I began to ponder the proper etiquette for hurling when driving.

Do I pull over and vomit at Celebration Park, or do I “suck-it-up” and toss my cookies in the car hoping I will be spared the humiliation of public puking?

Always my father’s daughter, also known as a valiant warrior, I opted to drive on. I threw up three times, bam-bam-bam, projectile vomit. The debris was everywhere including dribbling down my chin, in my purse, soaking the carpet and my clothes.

Always the optimist, I decided to continue my journey and mop up at home when, “What to my wondering eyes should appear?” but a child crossing against the light just as I sped up to catch the green-means-go signal.

It was lucky for him, he was wearing a helmet. When I was growing up, we didn’t have helmets, but we knew better than to cross a busy intersection on a red light. The sign says: “DON’T WALK” in blinking red. Perhaps that’s what confused him.

So, I stopped on a green light with drool on my chin. The boy stopped, in the middle of the street, just short of my left front killer bumper and waved me on. Really? He’s going to ride his bike against a red light, stop in the intersection and wave a crazy lady with vomit on her face to cross in front of him?

He was so vulnerable, so innocent, so precious and so in need of guidance. I wanted to protect him, pull over and talk to him about safety. I wanted to know where his parents were and why he didn’t  know better than to dart out in front of a car? But, what could I do with the contents of my stomach in my lap? I waved him to the curb safely with a smile and a prayer.

I just love a good barf story, don’t you?

So, summer is here. Children are out of school and the weather is perfect for bicycling. Wrapped up in the fresh air and sunshine, with the freedom to imagine, they expect adults to watch out for them.

I’m wondering if the citizens of Federal Way can commit to driving slower, especially in the neighborhoods?  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could make it through the entire summer with no bicycle-related accidents? Who would we be as we accomplished that? Perhaps we would be the safest city in the state to raise children.

City Councilman Martin Moore (the go-to guy for childrens’ protection), is currently working on a bicycle safety program with South King Fire and Rescue for Federal Way children to begin in the summer of 2016. But, for now, it’s up to parents to explain what the red hand means on a red light. Namaste.

Contact Federal Way resident Judith Madden Magruder at judithmagruder@hotmail.com.