2014 – The Year In Review

2014 was also a year of unsurpassed social connection. Always a bit of an isolationist, I have never really had to contend with competing offers to get together with folks. It was especially true during the summer months when there just aren’t enough hours to fish, hunt, cycle, and keep up with the house. At least in terms of hobbies, cycling won out and probably had to. One can’ t ride the California coast or Colorado’s Triple Bypass without some preparation. You can’t just show up and expect to pull those two rides off. In all, I cycled almost 3400 miles in 2014, enough to cross the

United States from Seattle to Miami and a good chunk back again. Conservatively that is roughly 230 hours in the bicycle saddle. This is an interesting time because 1.) my kids are just now old enough that I can pull off this kind of commitment and 2.) they’re so busy I might as well. If a kid has a two hour activity, why not bang out 30 miles? -And that’s pretty much how I knocked out the 3k. Cycling really became my church, and I have come to fall in love all over again with the Denver area through the wonderful vantage point on the back of my bicycle, now a 21 speed carbon framed Scattante Elite, which we call “the cutter” around my house.

In 2014 I reconnected with my half brother Michael, whom I hadn’t see in, believe it or not, 37 years. The last time I saw Michael, he was in diapers, and today he is a software solutions consultant. It really is quite amazing how many parallels our lives have had despite being separated for so long. ╨And the best part is, that he is a really really decent, stand-up guy you’d be proud to know. It’s just one of those things you think is really pretty cool when you think about it.

-Just a couple of quick lines about the hunting seasons. Herd populations were down, so Emerson and I had to sit out the deer and antelope seasons. Elk season, though unproductive (as per the norm), did give us a few moments in front of a herd in some pretty nice scenery around Crested Butte. It is always good to get out there and I am glad we made it. There is something about fording rivers in a driving snow to put meat in your freezer that makes you feel like you’re connected with the universe.

The big project going on now is Emerson╒s BMW 525i restoration. We rescued this 1994 beauty from a trailer park for a $1000. Emerson has impressed me with his commitment to the project. He’s made all the repairs himself, some with little or no supervision, and I gotta tell you when that thing is having a good day (soon they should all be good days), it rides very nicely. The BMW was the result of a deal I made with Emerson around some proven dedication, one I was glad to make good on.   I just hope he shares the car with me when we are all done.