A few words of the group of 12
If your lucky, at some point in your life, someone takes an interest in you, gives you a break, offers encouragement, takes a chance on you when there’re other options, picks you up when you are down, tells you to stick with it when it’s easier to give up and go home, gives great counsel and wisdom—all the things that shape you and make you who you are today. I have not yet thanked all those people in my life and will not be able to—some have passed on, and others have moved on and others I have lost track of-- but I have never forgotten them. After biking some 2,900 miles as part my training regimen, I have had plenty of time to think and be thankful to a select few, who have impacted the formation of my inner being, and strongly influenced my life—personally, professionally, spiritually, and emotionally. Apart from family, there are about 12 individuals, excluding a unique and very special collection of individuals at JCU known only as Tenreb. To those 12 plus Tenreb, thank you and God bless. Now my mom, on the other hand threatened to take me out of the will when I first told her about this, but has since come around and is getting more comfortable to the idea. I guess its a mothers prerogative to worry about these things. I am confident she will see that this is exactly mirrors the child she intended to raise all along—that at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is what we do for other people.
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A few noteworthy persons of interest that have directly impacted this ride.
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Mel Dick. I met Mel Dick in May 2008 as he was riding his bike a full 10,000 miles to raise money for childhood literacy. I had dinner with him as he was 7000 miles into his journey and he was doing great. I knew at that moment after having pasta with him, that I could find the strength to pedal 3400 miles of a supported trip. Thanks for the inspiration Mel. |
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Tom Chong at Sport & Health, Tysons Corner Virginia has been working with me since October 2008 to get my body and mind into the right shape. As I dropped ‘pronouns’ throughout our workouts, I would always notice the smile he had on his face as he made my 50 year old body do things that the good Lord never intended it to do. I don’t think I would be doing this had Tom not enjoyed my pain, my crying and my agony. I am approaching this with the utmost confidence that Tom got me ready—both physically and mentally. Contact Tom at tchong@sportandhealth.com if you need to get that same type of confidence as you work towards your personal goals. |
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Rick Daignault, my good buddy for 30+ years worked behind the scenes in outfitting me with the gear and apparel I needed. As the Executive Vice President of Midwest Promotional Group in Chicago Rick brought his 30 years of experience in apparel business to the personal level. Rick took my kids drawings and put them on my cycling shirts, t-shirts and all my collateral gear to give me that personal inspiration to continue the journey –when I will be at the lowest points of the ride. My ‘little buddy’ brought them to life. Thank you Rick. Rick has undertaken a commitmtent to meet me in Illinois and pedal through the state with me. I also appreciate the financial support offered by Rick to help defray some of the trips costs. Rick and his team are quite a talented bunch. r.daignault@midwestgrp.com |
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Chris Stewart. An amazing talent when it comes to this internet, electronics and high tech product stuff. Chris was my ‘technology adviser’. With some of the blog ideas and electronic ‘asks’ I made of him, he never said ‘no’ or ‘it can’t be done’. The positive attitude of ‘we will get it done’ and ‘we will find out how’ set the right tone for me out of the blocks. For you '24' fans, Chris is a male Chloe. Through his talents he has constructed my blog and outfitted me with needed video electronics and other tools to allow me to upload my daily travels each day as I experience this great country from the saddle of a bike. Thank you Chris and Ann (for letting me steal him late at night on weekends). |
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Sandy LeCren at Spokes Etc. of Vienna Virginia sold me my Specialized Roubaix Expert and fitted me with the bike and ancillary riding equipment in June 2008. I have been training on this bike since. I am quite pleased with the product and have confidence that the bike will get me 3400 miles and the granny gear will be exactly what I need to get me over the 5 Mountain ranges. I also get the self awarded award for asking the 20 dumbest questions at Spokes in the past year. Thanks to Sandy for her patience and to the service group at Spokes who are real pro’s. www.spokesetc.com |
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Scott Mclaughlin and Rich Glazer. My two buddies of 25 years were part of the ‘group of 3’ who entered into a pact in mid 2008 to do this ride together—as a group. For a while there was great talk of conquering the Rockies and catching the tail wind in the plain states. Unfortunately for me, work and family conflicts and travel for these guys are keeping them on the sidelines for this trip. Had these two not endorsed the idea and not found the time to ride with me during the middle of winter in the hills of Pennslyvania and Northern Virginia, I would not be doing this ride and not raising money for FAAN. I am hopeful that they will surprise me somewhere along the 3400 miles and do a few climbs with me. Message to Scott and Rich: Catch me in Albany New York and do the last 200 miles with me into Beantown. FOOTNOTE: Special Thanks to Dan Glass on some of the photographs. As a fellow cyclist, he knew how to capture the moment. |
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Last but Certainly Not Least-- Two Special Guys Howard W. Arendt – I lost my Dad in 2004 and as I sit here today I can’t imagine what he would think of this journey of mine---and at the same time I chuckle when I imagine his reaction to me telling him about my 7 week cross country bicycle ride!! My Dad was from a very different world. Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky during the 1930s, he was forced to undertake some difficult journeys, beginning at the age of 9, when he faced the unexpected loss of his father, due to a series of injuries suffered in WWI. As the oldest child he led his widowed mother, and two younger siblings thru some very difficult times during the Depression years. When he reached the age of 18 he enlisted in the US Marines Corps 6th Division. He survived many military engagements and was awarded the Purple Heart. While certainly a veteran of overcoming difficult challenges in life, like so many in his generation, he nonetheless, I think, with a roll of his eyes and a few pronouns under his breath, would be supportive of me doing this. I take great comfort knowing that my Dad was very proud of all of his kids, and I know he will be guiding me from above as I pedal across the beautiful land he loved so much. |
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James Patrick Deely, Jr.My Father in Law - The greatest story teller I have ever met. His life experiences as a kid in Philly, the oldest son of an Irish Catholic family with 7 kids, along with stories of the job he loved, working his way up the law enforcement ladder as a cop with the US Park Police, NYC Homicide, Smithsonian Institution and Consolidated Consultants, offered a vast portfolio of stories that made, and continue to make great entertainment, especially when retold with all the typical Irish embellishments. Before his death in 2007, he achieved his life long dream and became an accomplished author. He was a well known friend of the Jersey Shore, a place he loved so much. He was a Best Buddy and long time veteran of the Rain or Shine 53rd Street Crabbing Club. While I am unsure of how James Patrick himself would support a cross country bike ride, I do know this-- he would certainly offer a tip of his hat, and an Irish toast, and then another, and then another, and maybe even another… to acknowledge my effort. |
