Mary Caruso

My friends Jack and Laura are true blue friends.  They support me in everything I do; whether or not they agree with what crazy thing I am doing at the time.  So back in September when I told them I was doing this bike ride, they never hesitated!  Jack took their hybrid bike and brought it right into Zanes.  He had it tuned up, put brand new tires on it and a new seat too!  Jack said that would turn out to be my most important part of the bike-had to have a good seat.  He so proudly brought it to me when it was done.  We spent time together-Jack showing me how to get on and off of it properly-yes it is true I did not know how to do that!  He showed me how to use the gears and just how to stay on the thing without falling off.  Mostly he yelled at me just because that is what he does !  But that is part of who he is and I love him for who he is! Jack and Laura are the best at listening to me cry and complain and getting me through life’s bumps in the road. Jack will yell at me and I will stop and think about what great advice he gives me and I am back on track.  So my bike wasn’t just a bike to train on, it was a sentimental memory- a personal piece of emotional support from two people who genuinely love me and accept me for all of my quirkiness.  

So tonight I got all dressed for a great but cold and challenging ride-I put on my great new bike shoes that Norm helped me pick out, the under armour Jackie bought me for Christmas and Alex’s warm scarf that she insisted I put on. I made my way to the garage….. opened the door and wait…….where the heck did I put my bike?  It was here just a day ago!  Then I thought; Ben…….he has been working so diligently on the house….he didn’t like where I put it so he moved it somewhere, of course!  I dug to the back of the garage but nope!  OR someone picked it up to put some kind of neat accessory on it as a surprise! I called everyone, no one did that either!  So the reality has set in; I am sad to say no one moved the bike, well at least no one that we will ever know about because someone actually came to my house, went into my garage and stole the bike!

 But then this ride and this blog are about over coming obstacles so I know I will get past this and be able to move ahead. So being robbed kind of fits into the whole theme of picking up where you left off and moving on in a positive way.  It’s just another challenge associated with the ride, besides no one said it was going to be easy!  Really this isn’t the worst thing that I have been through.  It is however one of the most personally offensive acts I have been through.  I can not imagine stealing something from anyone.  I have a hard time stopping when I see something really great on the side of the road.  I am always compelled to knock on the door first……JUST in case the people really didn’t mean to put it on the curb.  The bike was a symbol that Jack and Laura knew I could and would do this and now it’s gone.  The bike was a reminder of their immense generosity.  I feel worse for Jack and Laura, it was not a cheap bike and they trusted me with it, I really should have been more careful.  But I will replace the bike and they know I will.  And the sentimental feelings can’t be taken away-no one can rob me of that!  Because those are the important parts of life-the wonderful memories!  I will always remember Jack yelling NO! You don’t just jump off the thing at that speed, you slowly lower one foot as you stop.  NOW DO IT AGAIN!

So if anyone happens to see a really short person (it was a pretty small bike to fit me right) on a great looking Trek hybrid bike or a really big person trying to ride a really small bike- would you please ask them if it is Jacks bike that was in my garage? More importantly you better tell them Jack had better NOT find out who did this!   Explain that this is a challenge for me and I really need that bike!!  Who would have thought? I keep saying to myself, “say it isn’t so”…..but unfortunately it is! 

Well, as my father used to say…….. keep your chin up, there are better days ahead.

In peace and a world without theft

Always

Mary