MY wife Patricia has been my greatest supporter, my rock-steady soigneur, since we first got together over 30 years ago.
WHETHER it be helping out at the Ride & Walk 4 Art just last month, or at the Deathride, or at the myriad other events I’ve attended, she’s always there with a word of encouragement, a bit of decorating advice or just a smooch.
MY girl doesn’t miss a beat, nor does she fall asleep, when I regale her with my V02 max or power numbers.
SHE doesn’t mind either, hosting a big ol’ party for a bunch of California Alps Cycling members, and listening to our watt woes, and hearing about our hill-climbing prowess (or not).
Neither does she turn a deaf ear when we loudly articulate every inch of our death-defying (kinda) descents.
She’s always willing, too, to cheerfully drink Bloody Mary’s with me; even on a freezing-ass cold, super-windy, Monterey Bay day. You can’t see ’em but there must have been five (5) heaters around our table that day.
She puts up with my goofiness and boy-child behavior, and even giggles (sometimes) when I guffaw at my gas-passing.
WATCHING every day and every hour of the Tour de France with me? Yup, she does that. Replays of cross races on Flobikes? She’s there! Stealing my issues of Velonews and Bicycling? Totally.
TOLERATING my incessant, and admittedly irritating, coaching when she’s on the bike in the paincave and just wanting to watch Pachinko? That’s my uber-patient wife.
HANGOUT with me while I race, and cheer me on at the finish? Yup.
BE my support crew while I film rides for Fulgaz? You betcha! Editors note: On the Carson Pass ascent (east side) her leapfrogging me was particularly welcome, and at one point there’s a special pic. of her as she closely examines some plant life with PictureThis, a very cool plant identifider app.
AND she also warms my cockles. Easy now, I hear your snickers.
THE best part? She’s mine and I’m hers.
IT’S your day today, my wonderful wife, so feel free to peruse every aisle of Costco without me cracking the whip or complaining about how slowly people sometimes move.
GO ahead, stop at Jack in the Box for that fish sandwich. I won’t give you a hard time about the fat or sodium content. Cross my heart.
THANK you for being you, my sweet.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CUPCAKE!
