Mary Caruso

Well, It is official………22 days until the big bike ride!  I realize that I have not written too much about how my actual training is going.  I have written about everything but…….So I will fess up now to how unprepared I really am.  However there is so much other stuff in life that is important yet relates to this whole journey…….don’t forget we are all trying to open our hearts and accept ALL people.  We are moving to co-exist as a nation of understanding and kind individuals!

my inspiration

my joy with my sorrow!

BUT there I go again away from the ride……so for all of you incredible people who have invested in me for this ride I can tell you that I have learned a TON!  I now know how to hold my wrists on the bike AND my arms.  How to position my head (not a normal position I promise) and even how to actually pedal correctly.  I know this because I was doing all of it WRONG!!!!  I had a great training session with Ron at Pedal Power in Middletown.  They are my new best friends.  It is a great little shop………now when I say little I don’t mean small.  The area is large, the selection of bikes huge, the knowledge of the staff unsurpassed! When I say small I mean it is intimate, friendly and embracing.  When I first walked in Paul met me within seconds……..huge smile and a very warm welcome.  He could probably see the terror in my eyes because he was very gentle in his approach.  It brought me home to how I would try to greet my customers when I had my shop.  He had the very hard task of fitting me to my bike helmet….NOT an easy task.  I think that my head is way too big for my body.  And those things are not the least bit stylish.  Someone has to do something about those things……my riding helmet back when I was a kid looked better.  And maybe my friends Holly and Kyle who ride can get by wearing them because they are unbelievably good looking but what about me?  UGGGGGG…it is NOT good!  So anyway Paul did fit me after a long time.  Each time we got closer to the right fit I would break out in a cold sweat!  remember I am VERY claustrophobic!  But you gotta do it!  So I sucked it up for safety sake! And we did it…..the final fit was perfect!  It took a few minutes for the sweat to stop and the room to stop spinning and my ability to breathe return!  I have gotten used to the helmet and now it’s only a few seconds after I put it on to get back my courage.  NOW! Combine that with clipping your feet into the pedals, putting on those important gloves, balancing on the stupid bike and EVEN…..GULP! riding down route 80 (from the library to my house)……….but I DID IT!!!!!!  So what does everyone think?  Too small of a step?  

The general concencious is…………I am in big trouble!  Last night there was a big surprise at my house when I got home.  A group of dear friends all traveled to be together to have a great dinner and celebrate friendship, love and kindness.  It was the perfect night!  My girls planned it……Ally & Sam & Laura & Janie pulled it off without a hitch and we had fun!  The only bad part is that EVERY other word was about the bike ride!  And it wasn’t all good!  There were some knowlegable riders present, my friend Mike is a big peddler from way back and he was pretty tough on me!  There is SO SO much to know and so much work involved.  Everyone agreed……..I am in big trouble!  

karen with the two bike experts-john & mike

PLEASE REMEMBER!  I never said I was well trained or experienced.  I am doing this for enlightenment and to become a better person.  I am doing this for those who can’t ride or even walk, I am doing this for those who have a hard time existing in life, I am doing this for the betterment mankind!  I want ALL people to know that you have to work hard in life, strive to exist and LOVE what you have not WANT what you don’t have!  So one way or another I will finish the ride.  Mike thinks it’s going to be sometime in June……John thinks I will do so well that I’ll keep going to Canada !  Either way the important lesson is……………I love both these guys for the different people that they are and the joy they bring into my life.  (John reads the blog…..Mike does not!) I embrace my life for the beautiful path is takes-my great kids, my wonderful friends and family, my incredible sisters, the forever memory of my mom and dad (they ride with me each time I get on the bike) ……………… and I am grateful for each and every day!

Hope I talked enough about the ride! I am working on my core strength and as of today I can ride 10 miles…..Mike wants me to do 15 THIS week!  UH OH!

Until then……..

In Love and Peace

Always,

Meir   

it's the people in your life that make the journey worth living. Missing are Darren & Jackie!

  I guess before I can really express my true convictions I have to write just a bit about how I became so resilient.  Especially this time of year, I believe we all look back upon our childhood with so many emotions.  I truly had the most amazing parents anyone can imagine.  

My dad was a business man who had a combined personality of intelligence, wit and compassion.  Even after his passing in 2001 I still have people coming up to me to tell me these wonderful stories about how he helped someone out when they were having difficult times.  He owned an oil company in my hometown of Rocky Hill.  He really was the pillar of the community involved in so many civic organizations.  He was so kind and generous.  We butted heads most of our lives but had a deep connection because we were so much alike.  I still remember the day he was so mad at me I thought his head was going to blow off.  But he never raised a hand to any of us instead he banged on the side of the house so hard I saw the shingles start to fall away!  AHHHH great memories.  My most precious memory is that of taking a trip alone with him in 1994.  I had never done such a thing and we had a blast.  We went to Florida together and I had the wonderful opportunity for the first time to see how much we really were alike.  We talked to everyone and made friends everywhere! Then when we found ourselves snowed in at Newark Airport we made people laugh-and I mean people who were pretty aggravated at the situation.  We were able to turn the mood around and laugh and joke with people in the airport.  I will always cherish that trip as one of the most valuable lessons in my life!

My mom on the other hand was a bit more quiet and reserved.  She was the apitamy of what a mom should be.  Beautiful in spirit and so humble.  Almost every day when I walked in from school her baking bowls and wooden spoons would be out and ready to bake some great new recipe.  She was the wisest woman and had the most insightful advice for many.  We lost her this past June and this season is turning out to be the most challenging for me so far in my life.  My sisters Marcia and Micki and I have still not moved her bathrobe from the hook in the bathroom, somehow it just doesn’t seem final until that is done. Mom had a heart of gold and was the most non judgemental person in the world-truly and genuinely!  She attracted people to her kitchen table her whole life-she was the best cook and was always such a delightful person to sit and talk to.  When I was a child I remember on May day she said to me, “let’s go pick all the may flowers in the back and we will bundle them and surprise people by leaving them at their front door”.  It was such an exciting adventure, and such a simple pleasure.  We had a ball running to our neighbors doors and leaving the anonymos beautifully wrapped bundles of flowers.  Thinking back it was the start of my desire to do acts of kindness and my mom introduced it to me at such a young age.

Together they worked as a team raising my sisters and me in the most wonderful home I could imagine. Marcia, Micki and I recently took time away from the busy season to sit and enjoy lunch together.  It was so wonderful!  We talked about how much our parents cherished family and vowed to see each other at least every other month.  I ask you this week to think about your roots, your parents!  The people who made you who you are today.  Let go of any of the bad stuff (cause there is always bad stuff with the good stuff) and really think about the good stuff. Whether they are here in body or in spirit hold on to that one great memory and place it in your heart!  If you have children try to talk to them about the good stuff that was brought to you and what you bring to them.  

Open your hearts today and enjoy.  May you find love and peace in this day. Oh yes and do something really kind, either to someone you know or maybe someone you come upon- YES even a stranger!  And even if it is just a smile and a hello.  Then comment on it- on how you felt to put yourself out there. Try it!

With Love and Peace & a Merry Christmas to all!

A Wonderful Christmas Day 08!

Always

 Mary