Personal Narrative-RAGBRAI And Team

As I got into my tent last night I thought, "It seems like I just crawled in here yesterday." In reality it has been over a year. I've always heard people say, "I have not talked to so and so in years but we picked up like we had never parted." That is what RAGBRAI and TeamLIVESTRONG is like for me. Many of the team from last year and a dozen or so virgins. It was complete chaos and perfectly organized at the same time. I imagine this is what it may be like in a bee hive. Everyone all moving around apparently in circles but also very productive. Yep, for me the last 365 days disappeared when I got off the bus at 3pm yesterday.

As I road the first 14 miles, 780', and drank my first water bottle today, I thought about Tina. (I road for her Mom a month ago.) I bet for her time must be completely warped. Her Mom ran out of time 12 days ago. And the flag I road with this morning is for her daughter, Katie, who she lost over ten years ago. Both to brain cancer. For Tina I imagine her thinking that she will call her Mom tonight and tell her about the ride. I also imagine her riding this week thinking that it was "just yesterday" that she and Katie sat on their driveway as watched the RAGBRAI riders go by. …show more content…
We rarely acknowledge those survivors and veterans who supported and suffered along with their loved ones. And in the case of Tina who are still here while her loved ones have passed on. The flag I have this morning says Katie. The person, however, I road for was Tina. A cancer veteran who I got to hug yesterday after a 1 day (or 365 day)