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November 4th, 2008
The America I had once feared lost has been rediscovered. This is an epic moment in the history of our nation…
Once again we have a wise and compassionate leader, who like Abraham Lincoln, will unite, not further divide this country. Our President elect has inspired a new generation of patriots and given fresh hope to those who have for so long paid the price of our transgressions.
He has heard our voices over the din of capitalism, consumerism and elitism and he has restored confidence in democracy to people the world over.
The last time I felt this sense of awe in a leader was sitting in the Lincoln memorial reading the speeches that helped heal a country divided and on the verge of self destruction.
Then as now it was clear that the right way is seldom the easy way. But if we are true of heart, noble of intent, focused in mind and confident in action, we will persevere.
It is easy to get wrapped up in ourselves, obsessing about our paychecks and personal wants, forgetting we are not only the luckiest people on the planet but also the model for the rest of the world. Great opportunity bears great responsibility and this nation has failed to take that responsibility seriously enough.
Lincoln was acutely aware of the challenges he would face in pursuit of change. He knew the risks involved but he never lost sight of the rewards. He stayed true to his heart and the ideals upon which this nation was founded. Ultimately he paid for that change with his life, but his legacy was a better America.
That’s the funny thing about change. It rarely happens easily or painlessly. While it can be a gradual process, more often than not it is a sweeping wave that obliterates everything we once believed unmovable.
We are fortunate to be living witnesses to a historic event and maybe even the culmination of what George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy fought so valiantly for. Soon you will be able to tell your children one of two things, you were alive at a turning point in American history… or you were part of the change.
Which one will it be?
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Back in the saddle again
Wow, almost three years since I did an update… A lot has happened since my last post. I have moved to Chico and am now working for the state. My old job combined with my consulting gig was killing me. I was lucky to get five hours of sleep a night and had no life other than work. My new job is much more civilized in that regard, especially since I have cut out nearly all travel this year. It feels nice to have the makings of a normal life again…
Chico has been great, lots of cool outdoorsy people and a fantastic cycling community. I am commuting by bike and have been doing the local group rides whenever possible. I have even done a few races as of late, but have yet to get any meaningful results. Hopefully that will change once I can add a little training into my schedule.
I have also met a lady with whom I have been spending quite a bit of time. She has three kids, two of which are at home and one who is in college. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the whole ‘kids’ thing, especially since hers are largely grown. I figured if I ever got involved with someone with kids they would have to be young so there was a chance to develop ‘family bonds’ and while I always thought I would be a good dad, older kids frequently resent the kind of changes that ‘mom’s boyfriend’ can bring. My fear would be our relationships developing into a competition for limited resources, rather than the family growth experience I envisioned. At least that was my concern with this relationship, but so far that has not been the case.
While the oldest is now gone and largely uninterested in ‘family’ per se, the two younger ones have been a revelation. Maggie just turned 16, but in most ways she is mature beyond her years. She is attentive and sensitive to those around her and she misses nothing, spoken or inferred. I see in her so much of myself it is almost scary. Outwardly she seems insecure but there is an underlying strength, determination and conviction that few people recognize. I know I can help her harness all that and gently guide her towards the realization of her grand visions of the future.
She is wise and beautiful and completely unaware of how much she has to offer this world, and I never thought I would adore someone so completely…
Johnny in contrast is diplomatic, measured and patient. He tries to blend into the background whenever possible but he listens to everything and reasons things through in a very mature way. At 13, he has perfected ‘easy going’ probably as a byproduct of having two older and sometimes emotional sisters.
I have sometimes wondered if I should push him to reach outside his comfort zone and engage in activities that offer more challenge, but after a recent running race I began to understand how much I may have underestimated him. For the entire length of the course kids were chanting his name and fawning over him and I now know that Mr. unassuming also happens to be one of the most popular kids in school, and if he ever realized this himself he has never bothered to mention it.
I knew he was in student government and a leadership program but what I didn’t know was that he was elected to those positions by his peers who seem to think he can turn water into wine. After watching him with his peers and seeing him interact with younger children I think I know why they admire him so much. He is gentle and caring and manages conflicts with a grace that few adults can manage.
I know most people think their kids are better than average, but the fact is these aren’t my kids and I still think they are pretty amazing…
I don’t know where my relationship with their mother will end up but it has been a positive experience to this point. We are very similar in important ways and very different in others. I know I have been good for her and the same is true in reverse, but we have also been through hell in previous relationships and endured things that few people in their right mind would willingly endure, probably as a result of an overly developed, if not borderline irrational, commitment to responsibility and loyalty.
The problem is I am still not sure I trust my decision making in that regard, despite all the lessons learned…
At this point all I can say is that I am looking forward to coaching and riding with Maggie, engaging Johnny on a multitude of levels, exploring life and the outdoors with Caryn and maybe even getting a little time for myself somewhere. I also hope to do more riding, writing and photography than I have these past three years…
If time permits, maybe I can also lend a hand in developing some of the local cycling talent. The Chico area cycling clubs have already laid a great foundation to that end, with events every weekend and a strong emphasis on new rider development. Presently the sport is poised for a renaissance of sorts and after so many years of drought it would be nice to be a part of that.
I guess that’s all that really news worthy but there is still much that needs to be said. I suppose it will become incentive for my next post…
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Terry’s Ax
I am sure everyone in the local cycling community already knows, but for friends, relatives and former teammates who were out of the loop; Terry Tupper was hit by a truck. Actually if this comes as news at this point I should probably backup even further… Terry has been a Police Officer with the Chico Police Department for about a year now.
On the morning of December 5th, while on morning patrol, he was hit by a semi truck near downtown Chico. The accident was pretty serious, he was knocked unconscious and had to be extracted from the vehicle by emergency crews. Judging by his car you wouldn’t think it was the type of accident somebody survives with all their body parts intact…
Fortunately his injuries were limited to a broken pelvis, assorted cuts and bruises and a healthy case of whiplash. Rather than try to recount the whole story I am going to simply post a few of the local newspaper articles at the following link: http://www.shastaexplorer.com/page.php?id=346
I will also include a link with some of the (very blurry) images I shot in the hospital with my camera phone, as well as some of the images collected by Chico P.D.: http://www.shastaexplorer.com/plug.php?e=gallery&f=136
Terry is currently in Redding and will stay there through Christmas at least. He is starting physical therapy and is well on his way to recovery…
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