AIDS LifeCycle - Day 0

The journey begins. Carol dropped me and Jamie off at the ATL this morning. While standing in the baggage drop off line, a lady was staring at my bike box. She said "Don't you need some air holes in there?" At first I was touched -finally someone else recognizes Jamie's almost human relationship with me! Then she said "what kind of dog is in there anyway?" Only then did I realize she thought my mighty Tiger paws were puppy paws for notifying handlers. Oh well.

 The AIDS LifeCycle love bubble kicked off with orientation day. I was relieved to see Jamie getting on the plane yesterday so I knew I would have the essentials - a bike, shoes and helmet. Everything else could be dealt with later.

A met up with a few of my new family members hanging in the hotel lobby and shared a cab around 10 am to the Cow Palace to get our bikes assembled, see safety videos and get our numbers and stuff. Amazingly, one of the first people I saw was CJ, my tent mate from last year. It was great to see her. I made a couple of new friends in my 2 hour line to get my bike assembled - from Houston, Tx and Seattle, Washington and India. Then I connected with Todd and that just made everything okay.

The safety video is more than that - it is also a reminder of why we do this, that the funds we raise change lives and save lives. It is a reminder that while 51 weeks of the year I am an accountant - this week I am a rider - just like my other 2200 riding family members. I am reminded to take care of myself and also to take care of those I am around. I am reminded that I belong . . . here - for this week. I am reminded that creating a love bubble really isn't that hard. It just requires seeing everyone on common ground - neither above or below the status you've given yourself and caring about their well-being as well as your own. So simple - yet we screw it up almost every day in "the real world".

This week I am a Rider. I really do belong here. (Except maybe in the porta-potties - which I cannot avoid until next Saturday!!). I still do not think I belong there!

You belong, too. Be there this week. Wherever it is - really, really be there.