Sites, sounds and smells of a grease junkie

2013 Trek Madone 4.5

I am sure lots will be said and written about the World Trade Center attacks in New York City 11 years ago today. It is hard, in some ways, to believe it has been 11 year. In some ways for me it feels like it was only a year or two ago. In other ways it feels like a dream sequence. Regardless of how it feels, the simple facts tell me it's been 11 years. I can still recall waking up and getting ready for what seemed like it would be just another day at the bike shop. I remember the skies were very bright and clear and blue. It seemed to be shaping up to be a gorgeous early fall day in the upper Midwest. My roommate called me and told me I needed to turn the TV on and keep an eye on what was going on. I was watching the TV as Tower 1 burned and saw the plane fly into Tower 2. I remember thinking "it accelerated just before impact." It also didn't seem real. When I saw the second plane fly into Tower 2 I felt sick. I figured at that point it wasn't just ...

Raced the rain and waltzed with the wind Boogied with the bluster The world calmed down from within. Felt the wet and the cold soak deep. Muscles tightened and sang in chorus. The mind said, quiet and listen. Dirt worked its way into the cracks and crevices. Smooth became gritty. Legs pumped on. Lungs drew deep breaths. While furies raged Peace was found And I felt settled This is why I ride.

I work with this guy. Well, he owns The Hub of Aspen which is a shop I work with. This is Charlie's crash from back in the day. All I have to say is, Love ya Charlie!

Better bend than break -Scottish proverb You may recall the story of the reed and the oak during a gale. The wind howled and the oak boasted. The reed remained silent. The wind picked up speed and as it did so, the reed bent with the wind until it touched the ground. The oak, meanwhile, fell uprooted by the strong winds. Sometimes what I see as my strength is really my stubbornness. Being rigid and not understanding of others. Basically a "my way or the highway" mentality. Where does it come from? Am I scared? Am I afraid if I compromise in the slightest all will be lost? Am I scared that one sign of weakness and the whole works will fall down around me? It is better for me to determine if I am being rigid or if I am truly strong. Not an easy thing to do for me. To be truly strong means to be gentle. To be tolerant. To be loving and flexible. It does not mean I give up who I really am. To be truly strong means to be true to who I really am. Be well.

Five years ago tonight was the last night in my life that I didn't know what it meant to be a Dad and a parent. Five years ago tonight I thought I was going to sleep in. Five years ago I meet a person who would flip my entire perspective on life. Virginia is smart, strong and beautiful. I am a fortunate man to be called her father. Happy fifth birthday Virginia. I love you.  -Dad

When I ride, I feel like I am surrounded by the dead. I see them, rather feel them, everywhere around me. Their ghosts hang around on the edges, where I ride. That may seem morbid, but hear me out. Daily on my rides I see dead animals. Their corpses bloated and covered with flies. Or squished into the pavement. Often covered in flies. I try not to breathe when I go past them. I also feel a little sad when I see them. Especially turtles for some reason. Maybe it's because I think, they don't even have a chance to get out of the way. A raccoon or a bird at least has a shot of getting out of the way. But a turtle, not a prayer. Death's die has already been cast at that point and it is completely out of the turtle's control whether it lives or dies. Besides the animals there are the white crosses. The little roadside memorials for someone who was loved (and still is loved) by someone else. When I see them, I am silent of mind and mouth. When I pass I alwa...