Ladies and Gentlemen of the Great Lakes West Chapter:
As Tuesday rolls into Wednesday, it’s now here and there’s no avoiding it…we’re going to Killington. I haven’t slept well for over a week in anticipation of this trip. Sure, riding 100 miles always presents a challenge, but the actual ride is the least of my worries.
Those of you who have ridden with me or Sarah know that she is the emotional one. Sure, I cried after completing my first JDRF century, but does anyone remember Sarah’s last trip to the desert…she was bawling at the start line while I just wanted to ride. So where am I leading with all of this…well, let’s just say that I may not be myself this weekend.
I would be lying if I said that I never hoped that all of these rides might lead to an advance that would allow my Dad to hang around a little longer. Something to give him a chance to watch his grand kids grow up, to share another golden year with Mom, or another opportunity to help mold me into the kind of man he turned out to be. Needless to say, that advance didn’t get here in time. So I am riding this weekend with a heavy heart and my father on my mind. He was a great man who did what he could for this cause and to fight this disease, so continuing to ride is the best way I know to keep his legacy alive. I know there’s video evidence to the contrary, but I will never stop participating in these rides.
So before I call it a night, let me once again thank the greatest teammates anyone could ever ask for. Despite my lack of participation this summer, I never once felt left out or uninformed. It is an honor to be a part of your pace line.
Rob
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Killington
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5 comments:
Can't wait to hang out with you this weekend, friend. A big part of my heart will be riding for your dad on Saturday, too.
Rob,when I first joined our team I was not personally affected by this disease, but now...well..I am. Getting to know everyone and the people they are riding for has made it personal. We will all be riding with heavy hearts right along with you...thank you
Bill will be on my mind, my friend.
Note from mother of diddidit- Rob, that was a touching and very fine tribute to your father. A biking and diabetes event is a powerful way to both grieve and celebrate his life. Best wishes to you. Ride on, Killington Team!
Brother Rob...I must confess that I missed this post until now, and I'm sorry that I did. It was a powerful weekend and w/ all that was going on I felt more than a little disconnected from you guys at times and had I known that this was on your mind (and I damn well should have!) I would've made a bigger effort to check in w/ you. I'm sorry man.
Suffice it to say that many of us had Bill in our hearts and legs on Saturday.
I'm so glad that you were there - it would'nt have been the same otherwise!
Thanks for everything!
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