June 2024: We “GET” to ride

A few weeks ago, I “GOT” to ride bikes with some of my favorite people.

Last Christmas, my father-in-law, Pop, rallied a few of us to sign up for the upcoming American Cancer Society’s Bike-A-Thon.

I’m not a big cyclist and didn’t see any room on the calendar to become one this year. So it seemed like an easy “No.”

But we were a few Holiday cocktails into the night, the ride wasn’t until June, and the peer pressure was laid on thick. Plus, Pop had completed the 66 mile trek in back to back years – as a senior citizen cancer survivor, so how could I say “No?” I guess I HAD to do it.

“Alright, count me in,” I said.

As Christmas time became the new year and winter eventually became spring, I back burnered the whole event in my mind.

Life was busy

I hadn’t trained

My bike was in the shed

The logistics of the entire day were complicated and unresolved.

I figured that I had plenty of time to get ready. After all, the Bike a Thon wasn’t until June 2nd.

That approach felt fine…until the calendar flipped to June and I was out of time to prepare. I went into race weekend with untrained legs, an untested bike, a ton of logistical loose ends, and a frustrated wife because of those loose ends. My procrastination had me feeling a bit stressed. I wondered, “Is this another example of something I’ve overcommitted to?”

As a result of this stress, if you asked me that Friday before the ride what my weekend plans were, I likely would have muttered something like, “I HAVE to go to Jersey to do this Bike-A-Thon thing..”

But after experiencing the ride, my perspective and my attitude completely changed.

Long story short, Jordan and Jimmy ended up figuring out the logistics. Matt and Jaci picked up our rider credentials in Philly. We packed the car for the weekend, loaded the bike rack, and worked with the event coordinators to move our starting point up from the Ben Franklin Bridge to a more reasonable 30 mile segment beginning in Hammonton. We gathered in Haddonfield at Jimmy’s house the night before the event for a night of laughs, stories, and quality time.

The morning of the ride, we made it to the starting point without any issues. We had ourselves a great workout. We enjoyed celebratory beers and tacos at the finish line festivities in Ventnor. Then, we caravanned over to Ocean City to meet the rest of the family for our after party on the bay.

Hard to beat a day like that! It was a special memory. And amidst all of the fun with family, I was reminded of an important lesson.

Somewhere along the blocked off lane of the AC expressway as we powered through the headwind towards the finish line, my brother-in-law Mikey turned and said: “How lucky are we that we GET to do this?”

This was a perspective Mikey’s mom had always instilled in him any time he was training for something or challenging himself.

“You don’t have to do this. You get to do this.”

And she was right. We didn’t HAVE to do this Bike-A-Thon.

We GOT to do this Bike-A-Thon.

We lost Mikey’s mom to cancer 8 years ago. Throughout the ride, we thought about how much she and Mrs. Bonder and Mr. Altano and our other loved ones that we’ve lost to cancer would’ve wanted to “Get” to be part of a day like this!

So those words, that outlook, and their spirit gave us the spark we needed to go pedal to the medal for the last few miles.

It was an honor to “get” to ride for these friends and family who would’ve loved to be part of this day.

It was inspiring to “get” to ride for the friends and family who are still fighting their own battle.

We “got” to work out, share laughs, crack beers, eat Mac and Mancos pizza, and jump in the bay with some of our favorite people.

We “got” to be part of a special memory. And our ring leader, Pop, tells us all the time that there’s no bigger privilege in life than that…even if it means sometimes we “have” to get our bike out of the shed and pedal a little farther than we’re used to.

Cancer sadly reminds us that we don’t get to do this stuff forever, so as long as we are young and healthy enough to “get” to do it- let’s do it!

And most important of all, I’m so lucky I GET to have this Biker Gang in my life including:

First and foremost, those who have passed but still shape the lessons we learn, who we are, and how we approach every day of this life we “get” to live.

Pop- for rallying the crew and getting us to do this. Can’t wait for the next one.

Jimmy- for your generous hospitality, leadership, bike pump, and quality time.

Jordan- for your love, forgiveness, and all of your expert transportation logistics when I dropped the ball.

Steve and Mikey- for riding with me and getting me to push the pace. For a couple of guys that don’t ride bikes often, we crushed it. Except for when that old lady toasted us on the AC Expressway.

Ryan, Matt, and Jaci- for making the trip up for the ride, so we all got to do it together. It was a blast hanging and celebrating with you.

Charlie and Jack- for being brave and jumping in the bay. I’m so glad I get to be your dad!

Jade, Casey, Kaitlyn, Luke, Lexi, and Cole for watching babies, ordering pizza, and driving cars so we got to ride!

Payson, Natalie, and Romee- for being good, adorable, easy babies so we got to extend the celebration without a fuss. Soon enough, you’ll get to do this the ride with us, so start training.

If you asked me before the ride, I might’ve said “I HAVE to do this Bike A Thon.”

If you ask me now, I’ll say, “ I got to ride bikes and enjoy a special memory with some of my favorite people. And I hope I get to do it again.”

What has changed in your mind from an “I have to” to an “I get to?”

I’d love to hear your story. Thank you, Mikey, for sharing yours.

***oh yeah…If you’d like to make a contribution to the American Cancer Society on behalf of our team, you can DONATE HERE