Great Start Kem!
This is Kem Ramirez!
If you don't recognize him, he used to look like this.
Kem started his ride a little early. He rode from Phoenix, Arizona to San Diego 414.8 miles in 6 days, with all his gear.
Some quotes from Kem:
- "I am burnt like toast"
- "There are good kind people out there.... I would have died in the desert if it wasn't for them"
- "...challenging.....idiotic.....we love it even if it hurts."
Kem, riding with the group, with full support is going to feel like a vacation compared to what you just did. Hope you get a good rest before we get started again!
Spring in my back yard!
Instead of crocus and tulips we have Giant Bird of Paradise and Orange Blossom.I took these photos on my run this morning. As much as I will miss these views, I am looking forward to the spectacular landscapes we will experience over the next 7 weeks. See you all soon! Marianne
Last Day to ride before San Diego
Today was my last group ride before I leave for San Diego next Monday. I met the club riders as usual at Southgate (the shopping center across from my house).
This is actually the shopping center in the movie "Edward Scissor Hands"(circa 1989) with Johnny Depp. The film crew, trailers etc. were set up on our street for the better part of a week. Very exciting! I digress...
We had a beautiful 30+ mile ride through north Lakeland. At the end of the ride we were treated to a beautiful brunch in my honor at Greta's house. Thank you Greta!
Next on my to do list was to drop my bike at my favorite bike shop to be boxed up for the flight to San Diego.
So Flat Stanley and I went to visit Leroy to discuss packing the bike and my list of supplies. Many thanks to Leroy and all the staff at Bent's Cycling and Fitness for all their help and expertise
Meet Flat Stanley
I would like to introduce all of you to my friend Flat Stanley. He was sent to me by my cousin's daughter Katy Ericson. Stanley will be joining me on my ride across the USA. He was a regular boy until a bulletin board fell on him and made him flat. He has just finished a nice vacation in Florida with my Auntie El. He is ready to go back to work helping people and we all thought it would be a great idea for him to join the Ride for World Health. I promise he will not take up much space as he is well.... you know... FLAT. He does not eat much as he is well.... made of paper. I hope you all will welcome Stanley on our ride, it will mean a lot to Katy.
Birthday Miles
What is it that could make a day riding my bike better? Of course riding with friends. My friend of 38 years Kathy and I turned 50 this month. The tradition with the bike club is for everyone to get together and ride birthday miles. I casually mentioned to the club members that Kathy and I would be doing this on Saturday. Low and behold we had an impressive group ride on our local rail trail from Auburndale to Polk City (not a city at all). After a rendition of happy birthday reverend Keith S. started us off with a prayer of thanks. We have so much to be thankful for. Our beautiful Florida weather, our friends, our bikes and our good health. I would like to introduce some of the members because they are an impressive group.
First is Barbara K. long time member and board member. Barbara is in her 70's, a retired RN. She has traveled across and around the US and Europe on her bike. She has done at least two cross continental rides. As a matter of fact Barbara has passed her circa 1980 Schwinn she rode to Kathy to begin it's new life.
Next we were joined by Mary and Joe B. Joe, (in his 80's) is a retired anesthesiologist and his wife Mary a retired RN are from Minnesota. Joe started one of the very first out patient surgical centers in Minnesota.
We also had our good friend and former news letter editor Allan R. Allan has filled his retirement by volunteering his time to various worthy causes.Cycling has helped him to keep his diabetes in check. At 70 Allan is one of the strongest riders in the club.
We are always glad to see board member and resident computer expert Willie Q. Willie started cycling on the advise of his doctor as a way to improve his blood pressure and cholesterol readings. Willie has helped me with my training by challenging me to sprints and improving my peddling technique.Theresa C. and Greta M. were there with their smiling faces and stimulating conversation.
We were delighted to see two members return after overcoming some significant health problems. Donnie E. had been riding for years when he noticed he did not have the stamina he once had. When he went to the doctor for a check up it was found he had severe cardiomyopathy. He was shocked to discover he would likely need a heart transplant. He subsequently sought a second opinion. Thankfully the doctors decided he could benefit from a pacemaker/ implantable defibrillator. It has been two weeks since his implant and Donnie is back on his bike and feeling strong.
Also back on his bike and looking fit is Bob M. Bob was diagnosed with throat cancer last year. He has just completed several weeks of radiation therapy with a great attitude and good humor. He has been willing to share his story with many of us. He is a true inspiration! We will be praying for a clean bill of health and many more miles on his bike. When I think of the health issues with our little group and the care and technology that is at our fingertips it also brings to mind the tens of thousands of people in our own country who do not have access to health care. Add to that the numbers world wide who not only do not have access to health care but also struggle to meet their daily needs. As a culture we will be judged by how we treat the weakest members of our society. The Ride for World Health beneficiary Doctors Without Borders does the hard work bringing basic care to the most vulnerable people worldwide. I feel privileged to be a part of helping this organization. PEACE, Marianne
You totally made his month.
My best friend’s pride and excitement spilled out of her voice. With ebullience she told me how her boyfriend nearly cried he was so pleased and surprised: All three of the art pieces he’d done for the Ride for World Health (R4WH) Silent Auction fundraiser had been bid upon with great interest.
About a month prior, we’d all been making dinner together when I decided to have an auction. My magnificent friends immediately started volunteering what they could each contribute. Art, note cards, home-delivered dinners, winery tours, and jewelry poured forth from the hearts of my friends towards the R4WH and Doctors without Borders.
This was my first experience with fundraising. I’d signed on without considering the task of raising $2,500—in all it’s many dollars. Being someone who generally has a tough time asking for help from others enhanced the challenge of it. My default is to feign easy independence and to manage on my own, but this kind of endeavor wasn’t going to succeed on a one-woman island.
So I opened up. I flirted with stringing together such audacious words as: “Could you” and “support” and “me” all in the same sentence. The dog didn’t think it was too unreasonable a question, so I tried it on my mom, cousin, yoga studio and bike shop. The more I asked the more I realized that people and businesses were genuinely interested in the cause and even interested in contributing—in giving. In an unprecedented shift, I settled in to the role of Receiver: letting my community support me. Giving others the opportunity to give and graciously accepting their nourishing generosity.
The morning of the auction, which was to take place at my medical school’s hospital, I woke up nervous and excited. A long month of organizing and asking for donations was to come to fruition. Several of my friend’s has volunteered to work shifts with me and several more had obliged my request to bake for the 2nd-thought bake sale addition to the auction.
By 11:45am, scones, cookies, tarts, brownies and delicious breads were descending upon the goody table along with donated coffee. I set up my iPOD speakers and Buena Vista Social Club set the auction to a festive mood. The chaos of set-up seamlessly settled as friends dropped by to lend a hand. Before we knew it bids were being placed and friends who are not even doing the ride were explaining it to people stopping by.
My medical school years passed before me in front of the auction tables; surgeons and pediatricians and nutritionists and family doc’s came to show their support and pick up a treat. Portland’s bicycle culture rang true as one person after another inquired with enthusiasm about my training, the terrain and the ride. Numerous Doctor’s without Borders stories were shared by people who’d worked with them or who’d known people who had.
The day was so full of good conversations that when my friends arrived for the last couple of hours shift I could hardly believe it—nor that I’d forgotten to eat breakfast and lunch. I’m not generally the type.
The traffic wound down some and my three friends and I looked out over the five tables full of awesome auction items that my Portland community had donated: winery tours, coffee, yoga classes, bike tune-ups, gift cards, gift certificates to bike shops and restaurants, jewelry, an oil painting by my mom, and mixed media and wood block art pieces!!! A landscape of support.
A few people came by in the eleventh hour and we crowned them the winner of some items—sending them home with their gift boxes or painting! Between the four of us we cleaned up by 6:11 pm. By 7 pm we’d reconvened at our favorite bar for a celebratory round. Highlights and stories from the day were retold with enthusiasm, and the gratitude in my heart swelled to prolific proportions. As we sat there all together I felt like the luckiest person on earth. I had the sense that we were all a little aglow; aglow with the grace of community and generosity and our own shared experience of Margaret Mead’s sentiments: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”