new blog, new life

Beginnings:

Three weeks ago I picked up my 84 Raleigh 12 speed road bike at the shop. I had to put new tires and tubes on it since the old ones were so rotten. The chain was frozen by rust and replaced. The bike shop guys seemed to look at me in such disbelief as I told them I was getting it ready to ride. I felt like a museum piece. I tried to explain: 'This is my only bike. I bought this at age 24 'cause I was too poor to get one as a kid. ' Nothing worked. I paid my money and left. I was fifty one years old and at least 40 pounds overweight.

One thing I do have though is determination. Your life is how you live. I want to live a very full life.

The Moment....

About a year ago, I had one of those moments. I was so sick with a blood disease called Lupus I thought it was the end. After all, I was in a hospital bed set at permanent recline. I had the blood tests results. I had even went for that trip to the doctor where you get a BIG script of heavy duty pain pills and the speech about having a good life.
I left the doctor that fateful day sick as I could be. I passed my old r3\ed bicycle as I went thru the door. The bicycle I had bought at age twentyfour for my first bike. At twentyfour I had been soo healthy. I had rode any and everywhere I wanted. As I passed that bike with the giant bottle of pills in my hand, the bicycle caught my eye. It seemed to shout "Here I am," as I struggled thru the door. I came home prepared to put my affairs in order and literally get ready to die.
The bike seemed a sign of all the things I was readyto leave behind. I had left it out in the rain and elements for at least ten years. The seat sagged from rot. The chain and all the chrome was rusted. Wheel rims covered by two very aged tires. Weeds grown higher than the handlebars. At the time, I just sighed and went non by, convinced that I would never ride that bicycle ever again, for had the doctor just told me"Just go home and get you life in order?"