June 10, 2017
current mood: Blessed and Inspired
I believe people come into our lives for a reason. Some stay for a while and others for a short time. And even strangers come into our lives for a reason.
The selfie above is of a women who I met on a very special day. It was a special day for her and for me. It was March 8 of this year and it was my 10 year Cancerversary and I decided to go for a bike ride. I was just getting back on my bike since my accident and I wanted to do my favorite trail, the Withlacoochee.
On my way back I always stop at the same picnic table at Croom Trail. It's 5 miles from the car and always a great last resting stop. That March day, Margaret and her husband decided to stop at that same picnic table. They were riding 40 miles that day and stopped to eat their lunch. We started chatting about the weather and what a beautiful day it was with the low humidity and perfect temperature for a bike ride. She shared with me that it was her 80th birthday. I was so amazed at how she was still riding her bike. Wow! What an inspiration! We also shared our love of the Withlacoochee trail and she told me her and her husband were not originally from Florida. After they retired they bought an RV and traveled across the Country looking for the best spot to retire. They love the trail so much they settled along it, here in Florida. How awesome is that?
We also chatted about the Van Fleet trail. I had never been and she told me that it's a nice trail too but it's in the middle of no-where. I have since checked out the trail and I have to admit every time I ride it I think of her and her husband.
I've seen them on the Withlachoochee trail several times since our meeting and I always acknowledge them with a smile and hello. Today when I saw them we were biking in opposite directions. I knew we'd pass again so I decided on the way back I was going to ask her for this selfie.
Sure enough I passed them and turned around and caught up with them. I told her we had met back in March on her 80th birthday and she smiled and said what a great memory I had. I told her what I hadn't shared with her that day was that it was my 10 year Cancerversary. I didn't feel it was right to share that with her, since it was her happy, special day. I also told her that she is my inspiration and I hope that when I'm 80, I'm still riding my bike too. She was so thrilled and touched when I asked her for the selfie pic. And then so sweet when she said she wished she had a pencil and paper to share her email address with me. I told her not to worry I could put it in my phone. She wanted to share the pic/story with her two daughters.
Thank you so much Margaret for touching my life and being a true inspiration. Here's to many more miles and smile and hellos along our favorite trail, the Withlacoochee.
