The locket on the left was presented to Anne last week from Wendy Bower. Julianne and Brian of Long Jewelers designed the locket after Wendy told them of the RIDE and the story of Lisa’s locket.  Lisa’s locket is representative of all the hearts that touched us from the 2001 cross country ride and for the past 6 years building up to A RIDE FOR 3 REASONS. Wendy’s locket represents all the hearts who have contributed so much in so many ways to give us strength and encouragement to ride forward.

One of the most meaningful parts of this journey to date is to see the multigenerational involvement in the RIDE.  What has been very SPECIAL is to see the “little hearts” give so much!  Wendy is a Den Mom for a local Cub Scout troop and talked about the meaning of the RIDE and the joy of sharing.  Soon after her meeting we started receiving notes from 6 year olds with donations to the RIDE.  I was able to visit with a few of them personally. 

This is a picture of 6 year old Kyle (left) who asked “what do you eat on your bike’ and “do your legs got tired?”  Kyle also said his great grandfather died of ALS and his great grandmother died of Cancer. How many more generations will there be before we have the answers to these diseases. How rewarding it has been to see Kyle’s peers, his parent’s peers and my peers to join together to help find cures and give HOPE! 

Kids have stopped by the house after breaking their piggy bank and have given all they  have, Groups of children have gone door to door selling raffle tickets, families have organized a bingo fund raiser.  I visited another cub scout to thank Christopher for his donation and nice note.  What did he do?   He excused himself and went to his room and handed me a $20. bill he had just received for his birthday.  (Maybe instead of riding my bike I should go door to door looking for cub scouts.)  As Wendy said, all ages can get their heart around the RIDE and for that we are truly grateful.

Yesterday, Anne said I had the biggest bags ever.  I wanted to correct her so she would know that bikers call their bags panniers, but before I had a chance, she explained they were the bags under my eyes.  When there is a little more time I might share some of the preparations leading up to the RIDE.  It has been non-stop for at least the past six months.  It must show to others, since the gentleman who sat next to me on the plane kept calling me “sir,” and he had grey hair. At the end of the flight I was happy to learn he was in the navy.

What keeps us young are the young.  It was good to celebrate our grandson’s 3rd birthday on Sunday night along with a RIDE WITH A REASON send off cake, and the to have a wave good-bye from our Barrington grandchildren.  Note how “sweet” they are to give Annie a candy a day while Bob Bob is away.

For the past week or two the most common question I heard was “are you ready?”  Are we ever ready?  I can’t say I wasn’t complete ready to walk out the door this morning; but the next few days will let me focus on the task before us.  I hope we can enjoy the RIDE together.

I am certainly enjoying the first night “on the road” with lovely accommodations, great dinner, with special friends -  Bruce and Judy Homeyer  (neighbors of 20 years ago) who have opened their home here in Jacksonville and their hearts to make this first day a special one.  Bruce met me at the airport with a pickup truck so we could take the bike to their home for assembling.  Things went together well and we should be ready to RIDE tomorrow.  The clock just turned to tomorrow, so I am off to bed…

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