About six years ago I met one person. That one person blabbed and blabbed about riding bicycles. I got
my old Raleigh out of the shed and cleaned her up. Next thing you know I’m practicing for my club debut
so I don’t embarrass myself too badly. I rode up and down Coleman Cut until I knew I could. I didn’t know
anyone and later when I met them on the street, not in bike clothes, I still didn’t know them. Bonita took
me under her wing and now I know what a pain that is, but she took her turn staying with the new kid. I
always credit Ronnie from saving me from a slow death somewhere out in Ballard Co. It was a learning
experience as you find there’s more to it than just turning pedals. I met my buddy Vicki and we’ve covered
many miles together, literally and figuratively. (Nope, I’m not drinking.) People I never knew existed six
years ago are now my closest friends. I saw myself on the news saying something like, “The bike club is
full of great people.” Not rehearsed or anything, I was totally sincere.

On March 9. 1993 my niece and great nephew were killed in a car wreck avoiding a dog. You wonder why
I’m leary of dogs? I learned a tremendous lesson that day about how short life can be and about wishing
you could take back those silly petty things we let spoil our lives. My closet is full of ‘Life is Good’ products
and though it’s hard sometimes, I always try and keep that perspective. Since joining CRCC I’ve become
a rider and a runner and in the past six years I’ve done things I never would have considered—riding to
Murray on a bike—you’ve got to be joking!!

This past Saturday riding along with Martha, Sarah (her sister), Vicki, and our personal trainer Rondog, I
couldn’t help think about all the connections. I had heard about Sarah from Tina Jones who moved to
Lexington and connected with Sarah there. Tina and I email about cats and classes and all kinds of dumb
stuff—seldom bicycles. But it started there. Riding home from Fulton in Martha’s van with Carson driving
and Alan Hook worrying that we were going to run out of gas and Ronnie bellowing, “There’s no river in
Fulton” I was again amazed at the close friendship we all shared thanks to a bike club. I’m dying laughing
just thinking about it. Sorry Martha, no river.

You could analogize about Dorothy on her journey to Oz and the characters she met along the way and
the lessons she learned from them about having a heart, showing courage and knowing yourself. Of
course there were wicked witches and flying monkeys but you can squirt your water bottle at them. I’ve
taken many a journey with the CRCC and learned all these lessons along the way. Follow the yellow brick
road..............................and don’t turn unless there’s an arrow!!

Our Polar HR monitors prove we have hearts (most of us anyway), the fact that we are out on the roads of
Western Ky. proves we have courage or that we’re nuts, and if you don’t learn a load about yourself along
the way you haven’t ridden your first MM century yet.

I couldn’t begin to name all the people who have become part of my life due to the CRCC because there
are SO MANY. I always see Joe Kern in Walmart on Sunday morning and think of all he taught me
because I rode with him often that first year. Thanks Joe.