Day 15: Someone to watch over me

Day 15 miles to/from work: 27.2
Total miles for S4S: 384.3

A comment on yesterday's Day 14 post had me laughing milk out my nose this morning. My dear daughter Carrie—the woman who works 50+ hours/week, goes to grad school, is studying for the CPA, has a home with her boyfriend Carl, is mom to my two sweet granddogs, socializes with her friends, stays in touch with her family, works out, and does volunteer work for the Austin Humane Society—expressed her concern that I might be taking on too much. Bless her heart. I laugh, but I'm also touched. It means a lot to be "Cared" for (in every sense of the term).

I so appreciate each of you who "watch over me" in your own unique way: pledging to DCHS; cheering me on with the biking and blogging; taking the time to read this; making your sweet and funny comments on the blog posts, in emails, and on FB. Every day is a testament to how blessed I am to have such caring friends and family.

Weather Dude promised that today would be cool and partly cloudy with the tiniest chance of rain in the northern part of the state.  Could anything more clearly say, "Be sure to pack your rain jacket and perhaps the blueprints for an ark while you're at it"? Despite my cynical anticipation, the dark, threatening skies spit showers for only a mile; just enough to validate my reality but not enough to truly curse weather.com and WERN, or to have to stop to dig out my rain gear. (Not enough to make Dave E or Monte B pay $2 for today as a rain ride either—too bad about that part.) My legs felt kinda tired, but overall it was such a pleasant ride in with hopeful bits of blue showing in the sky as the miles spun on.

Well, a pleasant ride except for that car that buzzed me and came within inches as I was preparing to turn right onto the street where my office is. The late-model, light blue car with WI license plate 151 NHS scared the crap out of me, turned right in front of me, and sped off. Don't you know the police now have all that information too. 

This is probably not good to share for those who most "watch over me"—Carrie and Scott. When I first suggested this project to each of them, the reaction was identical: "This makes me very scared for you." Probably posts like Death and other things to avoid haven't helped either. But you KNOW I'm being careful. Obeying the laws. Stopping at red lights and stop signs even when there's no traffic. I'm being careful. Really!

By the time I left work, the dark threatening skies had re-established themselves; but the wind was helpfully from behind, the mid-50s temps were pleasant, and I felt like I was sailing for the ride home. Scott got an early flight home from his trip to Louisville, and we got to share a lovely dinner together at home. Life is good.