Friday, September 23, 2011

Michigan

Who knew you could travel to the lower peninsula of Michigan and travel the world?  As we rode, I could see the high mountain valleys with the old barns of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the marina's reminded me of San Diego, some of the rolling hills and winding roads felt like Missouri, and, if it was only 50 degrees warmer, the panoramic view we got as we approached Lake Huron could have been the Caribbean Sea near Cancun.  It amazes me how the mind can take you back in time in a second. 

Our mission was to ride much of the northern shore, eat some good local food, and visit winery's.  We had ridden the weekend before, visiting families of the fallen with the Tribute to the Troops.  Add the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and it was an emotional time and we wanted to get away to regroup.

We stopped at a winery to have a taste, and started a conversation with the woman behind the counter easily because she too was a bike rider.  We told her of a couple we knew that had hit a deer on their bike one morning the past weekend.  The bike was badly damaged, somehow he was able to keep the bike upright and fortunately neither of them was injured.  The woman's response was "Thank God, it's your worst nightmare!"  It stopped both Dave and I in our tracks.  It took me back in time, the moment I saw the two Marines approaching my house.  I didn't know where it took Dave, but I knew he was somewhere else too.

After a few seconds, in unison, we said under our breath, "It's not OUR worst nightmare."  We both know it is just a statement made in a conversation, and it was not meant literally, but we have such a different reaction  than we would have only 18 months ago.  I don't want people to think they have to be overly careful of what they say around me, I just view things so differently.  It is my job to try and deal with these everyday statements, not make people feel uncomfortable talking about Curtis, or anything around me.  It can be a daily battle.  Someone said to me lately, 'It's not that you have to come to terms that Curtis is dead, (I've done that) you have to come to terms that you will have to deal with this the rest of your life.'

Our trip was wonderful, relaxing and refreshing.  I am looking forward to the next time we can travel the world.

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