From the time a child is entrusted to you you have 6570 days till they turn 18. During those first 18 years values are instilled, lessons taught, and memories are made.
You teach, instruct, correct, model all the things you can to teach a young boy how to become a man. The days seem to pass slowly and yet with incredible speed and along the way you take care to number them, savor them and enjoy them.
You laugh, cry and at times scratch your head. You wonder how that little tyke grew up so fast. You see them grow and look you one day in the eye and then grow taller than the parents.
The birthdays tick steadily by and the activities evolve too.
In Mike's case:
from a white belt to black belt
from green beginner slopes to black diamonds
from lil bumps on the bunny trail to a State Championship
from kindergarten to the University of FL
There are tough times along the road but they are lessons learned and they serve in the long run to make you stronger. There are people who touch your live and then pass on for Mike a few of them would be Grandma Connie, Uncle Jack and Granny and Grandpa Hale. Each in their own way left a mark on his life and are missed.
Cycling has taught him many things: discipline, perseverance, focus, laughter, and patience. It has availed him friendships that will last for a long time--- Darrell and Uncle Bob.
It has forged a strong bond with Bernice and I as well as with his brother as together we forged first from San Francisco to Salt Lake City then from Coast to Coast this time last summer.
He finished his studies at the University of Florida. He has all his licences in place for a career in Financial Planning and joined me 8 weeks ago in my practice.
By the time I write this next week he will be married to Cayce. We look forward to having her as part of our family. She is a sweet girl from a great family and we welcome her with open arms.
w Well it is that time of year where the only ones that are riding regularly are the steadfast and faithful. The rest of them are enjoying air conditioning...WHY??? Cuz it is Humid and Hot here. Mind you I am not complaining- I choose to live here but the monotony of the weather does get old by this time of summer. 
Many cyclist and their bikes fall prey to the warm summer weather. To fight this we simply ride early in the morning- oft times pedalling away from the house before 7:00 am.
I added this one because I thought the reflection of the camera in my glasses was kinda neat. I take most of the photos here while on the move and occasionally I turn it in my own direction. 
This picture has two fold significance. First the writing on the sign could not be more fitting for Bernice and her love for reading. I did not notice that when I asked her to pose there. The school is a relatively new one here in town and is named after the son of a former client of mine. The son received the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of his unit by giving his own by covering an enemy grenade with his body while fighting in Viet Nam. The Mr Bowen Sr.died this past week as well. 
We have been treated to several new roads in the county in the last year or so. That is always nice for cycling as it means good pavement and a bike lane. 
The bike lanes are nice -- now if we can get the county to actually connect them. Many times now you go a couple miles and they end with no warning other than a sign "BIKE LANE ENDS" Yikes!!! sometimes this is at in inopportune time. 
We stop now & then at a little park off of SW 80th Avenue called Shalom Park. It is peaceful as the name implies.
