Today I took part in my first Race4areason Team Survivor ride.  A little after my ride I was sending a letter to my family of which I talked about my experience today and am sharing below.  I have changed a few things for public posting.

"On another note, the Race4areason Team Survivor ride today went well and was very rewarding.  We had 4 gals show up, all of whom were neat people with great attitudes and differing skills.  I couldn't believe their appreciation and words of thank to us for coming out and riding with them.  When sitting at Ivar's at Jene Coulon Park drinking hot coco, one rider, Wendy, said, "this must be really hard for you, riding with us" alluding to going slower than our normal pace.  Honestly it was very refreshing.  Instead of blasting down the street seeing nothing but your own front wheel and focusing on the workout, you got to take time to look around you, and take in more of the environment and carry on enjoyable conversation.   I have ridden the same route we rode today, maybe 50 times before and today I saw it in a completely different way.   Also, Wendy told Charles and I about some of her experiences with cancer.  And it occurred to me that it so often seems like people who get cancer are "other people" and it became so clear to me that those other people are people like our family, friends, ourselves - every day people.  My phone rang while we were riding back to Leschi and thus, I couldn't answer.  When I got back to the van after the ride, I checked my messages, and found that a good friend from high school had left me a message.  He called to tell me that another good friend from high school had died last Tuesday of cancer.  I sat there in the van stunned.  I had not seen him in years, but had exchanged a few emails with him when I first found out he was fighting cancer.  He was so optimistic about his fight."

This drove home my deep appreciation for those women who were out there this chilly April morning, challenging themselves and experiencing the joy of cycling and the beauty of Seattle.  I'm glad I could share it with them.

Tailwinds,

Bart