I Ride For: Donald

It was not warm or very sunny, but I had the right gear, there was no wind, and I just finished Round #12 of treatment. So when I got home I took 20 minutes to get dressed (ha!) and took off. I rode emotionally for the first 30 minutes - this means fast and mostly angry. Most of this was for myself but as the energy burned off I started to remember that I am pretty lucky, it is highly likely that I will die decades from now due to something other that myeloma, AND I caught a glimpse of the flag in my mirror. THAT brought things back into perspective.

I do not know Donald. I got his name from a customer of ours and have been riding for him for the last 3 weeks. I know that his passion is fishing and he is dreaming of the day when he can go out on the water once again. Here I am doing one of my passions and angry about 36 months of weekly maintenance, and Donald is still dreaming of just getting out one time. I know it does not work like this, but once I saw that flag this evening I knew I would trade weeks or months of biking for Donald to get this wish.

Donald, I have learned in the last 12 months that all cancer is different. AND the way we all deal with the side effects including mental health is as different as the stars in the sky. Some fight. Some fold. Some research. Some follow. Some pray. Some look for just one more day. I do not know where you fall, but I know what I hope, wish, pray for all of these paths: That you find shalom (peace) along the way. This is a different kind of peace. While I am not Jewish, shalom means not the absence of pain but the presence of LOVE. There is nothing in life that does not involve some kind of pain but hopefully it all also includes love.

SHINE!
The Road Rider

PS When you get that wish and get to go out fishing, let me know. I am not a fisherman, but I can sit in a boat complaining as well as anyone. Ha!