10 Years And Counting

Saturday August 25 was my '"anniversary" - 10 years ago when I got the initial call from my primary care doctor telling me that the breast tissue biopsy was cancer. It's one of those moments that you never forgot. I was in my office at the clinic when the call came at 9am. I was stunned. I was scheduled for group supervision in my office but told the first person who stepped in - Maria - that they would have to meet somewhere else without me.

But here I am 10 years later, training for another century ride. On Sunday Glenn and I rode 64 miles through crazy, crazy hills in northwest Connecticut. They just kept coming. At one point we zoomed 3 miles straight downhill into Cornwall Bridge - at the bottom we looked at each other and said,"oh oh". We knew what was coming next. Our event is a week from Sunday and at this point it is what it is. But I think we're ready.

We bought the house in Connecticut in part because the previous owner gave us a jar of canned peaches from trees in the yard. 2 weeks ago one of the trees was stripped totally bare. And when I got to the house on Friday, this is what remained on the second tree. Misshapen and damaged peaches - but they were great in peach Manhattans! With the cocktail sugar crystals rimming the glasses.

To state the obvious, I feel so lucky to be alive at all. And to have such good health which allows me to live this blessed existence.

Jamming With Judy

Judy with her new electric bass

I somehow got invited back to play with Judy! Here she is with her new mini electric bass. We met on Friday afternoon, sat on her front porch and played for a few hours. It was magical. Although we were outside and lot of people walked by, I was totally absorbed in what we were doing. She has a daughter just a few years younger than me yet she is so vibrant and fun. I worked hard since last time we met to learn a few new songs. It's really motivating so I played a lot the last week.

My favorite part is towards the end of our session (like last time) we began to improvise and sing harmony with no words, just playing the music steady and singing. At the end of our session I was literally buzzing. Just the physical vibration of the music as well as the heightened pleasure state.

Yesterday we did another long bike ride and during much of it I was singing either out loud or in my head. Endorphins! We picked up Michael in the morning and drove together to Ipswich where we did the same 62 mile route we did 2 weeks ago. Last weekend we didn't ride at all because of the endless rain we've had for weeks now.

Our big ride is 3 weeks away now so we have 2 more weekends to get ready. Glenn is feeling prepared. Me too. Michael will do the big ride with us. The Flattest Century of the East.

Then I promise him that we can do other things than spend hours on the bikes! Glenn loves to golf and sail. We have a membership to a swishy golf club in Connecticut (company perk) and he also has a reproduction antique sail boat so that's what we will once we finish the ride.

And more mileage

DeCordova Museum
Lincoln, Massachusetts

Our century ride is 5 weeks away so at this point we're really adding on the mileage. Experienced riders say that you can train at 60% and do fine at the event. And we are now over that milestone - yesterday we rode 62 miles out of Ipswich which is north of Boston about 50 minutes by car. I really hate to drive to bike but it a beautiful route. We went along the Ipswich river, through a state park, out to Crane's Beach with an ice cream stop. Worth the drive.

I've been playing the guitar and recently my friend Amy introduced me to her neighbor who has a regular bluegrass/country band who meets on her porch on Thursday and Friday nights. This week I will meet up with Judy to see if I might be able to join them. This feels like a huge leap as I've never played with anyone other than my teacher Ksenia. Baby steps - first she will listen to me play and sing and determine whether I might fit in with them. So scary! and so exhilarating.