Who in the Hell was King Palmer? Friend, joker,inventor,entrepreneur,father,lover, spouse,brother, grandfather,protector,and provider.Born in Tacoma,Washington on January 3, 1944.
King believed in living life, working hard but most importantly taking time to have fun. King wanted to remind us all that when we get to the pearly gates we will be asked by our maker if we have enjoyed the life we were given. He said his reply would be YES! On October 23, 2009 King did his last wheelie all the way to heaven.
(I am sure he enjoyed not having to wear a helmet on his last ride!)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
grandma is now just a memory
Yesterday, on June 17th my sister Tammi called me to let my know my grandma Twila had passed in her sleep. We had been waiting for her to pass for a few months. I have so many memories of time and talks with her that she feels even closer now. It's like she has moved and now lives with me. I am glad I told her how much I loved her and how much she met to me. She always encouraged me to do new things and always made me feel so loved and important. I am so thankful that she was my grandma.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
LOGIN Leaches
LOGIN Leaches
Now heading towards year 4 LOGIN is considered by those who attended to be a huge success. We have been successful in bringing together C-level people from around the world that develop games that are played online, mix in quality speakers and relevant sponsors , devoted adviser's and great volunteers and you have a recipe for success. This success isn't something that happened magically. It took a lot of people working together and devoting hundreds if hours , it required community support , and a lot of hard by Peter . LOGIN is called the best industry event by all those who attend. Sure we have had our share of problems but over all the event is a successful event. Please don't get that mixed up with being profitable!
After the event each year we give ourselves a week to cope with the post conference funk and then its back to work on planing the next years event. This year I made a big mistake. I started contacting people whose business cards I had collected at the conference. That might not be thought of as a mistake but that is only the first part. I asked if they had a good LOGIN experience and after the call I would add them to my address book , or invite them to join me on linked in.
The mistake was when I contacted a gentleman who gave me his card and I noticed he hadn't registered for the event. His title, Vice President Content / Entertainment Practice. The company he was with did not seem to be a small struggling company quite the opposite. When he told me he had enjoyed the parties I told him that the parties were for attendees only and that he should have bought a day pass or I would have been happy to sell him a party pass. I told him that since he attended I would like to send him a credit card authorization form or give him our address where he could mail us a check to make good for at the very least he should purchase a day pass. His reply was, " whats it to you if I didn't pay?" "There is no way in hell I am paying for an event where I just went to the parties and held meetings? " This response knocked me off balance and put me on the defense. When I told him that in my eyes gate crashers at LOGIN are not only stealing from me but they are stealing from all the attendees he got a bit pissed. He then sent me quick email telling me that his company attorneys have his meeting schedule along with a written letter from the Marriott that the Lobby areas are common areas and that he could be there if he wanted to be. How does one do this in less than 5 minutes? Was he bluffing , was it done in advance? All these questions racing through my mind. I sent an email back and said you win! I am dropping this, have a nice day.
Red flag for Asshole! He in advance had a letter from the Marriott about where he could be? I wonder??
But, I had his business card which to me met he was at our party which was clearing marked private party. So I told Mister whats it to you , what I thought and regretfully said I would like to post his name on the LOGIN web page along with a few others that were only pretending to be an attendee.
Mister what's it to you, wasn't the only LOGIN leach, there were a few others one was a CEO who had recently announced raising millions of dollars. One guy had the nerve to come down to our exhibit area and when I asked him if he was going to register he said no I am just here for a meeting? WTF! Why do some people think they are entitled to getting everything for free? Are they legends in there own minds? After pouring myself into an event each year and ending up in the red I feel like I have a right to take people stealing from me personally.
Was the guy I called on the phone just pissed because he got caught? I looked at his Linked in profile and it clearly said he was attending LOGIN. Is this the new way to do business? What about the CEO who was hanging out in the LOBBY just feet from our party, or the guy who told me he lost his name badge and 20 minutes later I saw someone else with the name badge on. Are these these the types of people we want to do business with? It seems to me that if these folks value the quality of the attendees that we bring together that should support the event instead of act as a LOGIN leach. We are not a company with deep pockets and a huge staff. We are Peter , Paul , James, Joe, John, Erik, Steve , Scott ,Brandon, Rich, and me, all working hard to do something really cool for an industry we love.
Sure there are a lot of conferences and they are expensive. We work hard to make sure our event offers the best quality and the best attendees. We understand that times are tough and people are struggling and they can't afford to attend all these conferences. We are happy to help people out! Our volunteers ranged from CEO's to students some helping before during or after the event so that they could earn a complimentary pass.
Maybe I should not take things so personally, maybe Mister whats it to you, was right when he emailed one of my friends and said, "So now you bring up an interesting point. Compromise might have been achievable, as I am always in favor of helping one out. However, Cynthia needs to go to business school to learn how to approach people and have professional discussions, with C-levels from companies. Her approach and tact; has been nothing short of unprofessional, inappropriate and downright offensive. Therefore, all hope of a compromise has subsequently been lost."
I honestly think if Mister what's it to you, registered for LOGIN 2010 I would prefer to send him a refund and tell him to stay home. Sure it might be immature and unprofessional but I find stealing to also be unethical , unprofessional, and insulting.
Please tell me if I am over reacting! Should I just be happy he booked at the conference hotel? Do you want to do business with Mister whats it to you?
Now heading towards year 4 LOGIN is considered by those who attended to be a huge success. We have been successful in bringing together C-level people from around the world that develop games that are played online, mix in quality speakers and relevant sponsors , devoted adviser's and great volunteers and you have a recipe for success. This success isn't something that happened magically. It took a lot of people working together and devoting hundreds if hours , it required community support , and a lot of hard by Peter . LOGIN is called the best industry event by all those who attend. Sure we have had our share of problems but over all the event is a successful event. Please don't get that mixed up with being profitable!
After the event each year we give ourselves a week to cope with the post conference funk and then its back to work on planing the next years event. This year I made a big mistake. I started contacting people whose business cards I had collected at the conference. That might not be thought of as a mistake but that is only the first part. I asked if they had a good LOGIN experience and after the call I would add them to my address book , or invite them to join me on linked in.
The mistake was when I contacted a gentleman who gave me his card and I noticed he hadn't registered for the event. His title, Vice President Content / Entertainment Practice. The company he was with did not seem to be a small struggling company quite the opposite. When he told me he had enjoyed the parties I told him that the parties were for attendees only and that he should have bought a day pass or I would have been happy to sell him a party pass. I told him that since he attended I would like to send him a credit card authorization form or give him our address where he could mail us a check to make good for at the very least he should purchase a day pass. His reply was, " whats it to you if I didn't pay?" "There is no way in hell I am paying for an event where I just went to the parties and held meetings? " This response knocked me off balance and put me on the defense. When I told him that in my eyes gate crashers at LOGIN are not only stealing from me but they are stealing from all the attendees he got a bit pissed. He then sent me quick email telling me that his company attorneys have his meeting schedule along with a written letter from the Marriott that the Lobby areas are common areas and that he could be there if he wanted to be. How does one do this in less than 5 minutes? Was he bluffing , was it done in advance? All these questions racing through my mind. I sent an email back and said you win! I am dropping this, have a nice day.
Red flag for Asshole! He in advance had a letter from the Marriott about where he could be? I wonder??
But, I had his business card which to me met he was at our party which was clearing marked private party. So I told Mister whats it to you , what I thought and regretfully said I would like to post his name on the LOGIN web page along with a few others that were only pretending to be an attendee.
Mister what's it to you, wasn't the only LOGIN leach, there were a few others one was a CEO who had recently announced raising millions of dollars. One guy had the nerve to come down to our exhibit area and when I asked him if he was going to register he said no I am just here for a meeting? WTF! Why do some people think they are entitled to getting everything for free? Are they legends in there own minds? After pouring myself into an event each year and ending up in the red I feel like I have a right to take people stealing from me personally.
Was the guy I called on the phone just pissed because he got caught? I looked at his Linked in profile and it clearly said he was attending LOGIN. Is this the new way to do business? What about the CEO who was hanging out in the LOBBY just feet from our party, or the guy who told me he lost his name badge and 20 minutes later I saw someone else with the name badge on. Are these these the types of people we want to do business with? It seems to me that if these folks value the quality of the attendees that we bring together that should support the event instead of act as a LOGIN leach. We are not a company with deep pockets and a huge staff. We are Peter , Paul , James, Joe, John, Erik, Steve , Scott ,Brandon, Rich, and me, all working hard to do something really cool for an industry we love.
Sure there are a lot of conferences and they are expensive. We work hard to make sure our event offers the best quality and the best attendees. We understand that times are tough and people are struggling and they can't afford to attend all these conferences. We are happy to help people out! Our volunteers ranged from CEO's to students some helping before during or after the event so that they could earn a complimentary pass.
Maybe I should not take things so personally, maybe Mister whats it to you, was right when he emailed one of my friends and said, "So now you bring up an interesting point. Compromise might have been achievable, as I am always in favor of helping one out. However, Cynthia needs to go to business school to learn how to approach people and have professional discussions, with C-levels from companies. Her approach and tact; has been nothing short of unprofessional, inappropriate and downright offensive. Therefore, all hope of a compromise has subsequently been lost."
I honestly think if Mister what's it to you, registered for LOGIN 2010 I would prefer to send him a refund and tell him to stay home. Sure it might be immature and unprofessional but I find stealing to also be unethical , unprofessional, and insulting.
Please tell me if I am over reacting! Should I just be happy he booked at the conference hotel? Do you want to do business with Mister whats it to you?
Monday, May 25, 2009
Traditions
When we moved back to Washington State Peter and I started a tradition of meeting each Wednesday for Lunch at a wonderful little Greek place in downtown Issaquah. It is a quite and cozy restaurant with , great food and wonderful service and its the perfect setting for intimate conversations or a nice place to sit and chat with friends. We considered this place as our own private restaurant. When we are at Tantalus we are young lovers. Tantalus was our secret and we only went there together. Each Wednesday Dale greeted us the same way with a huge smile and offering us our table which was located up a couple stairs with a nice window and a bit out of the way from the rest of the lunch crowd.
May 25 , 2006 our anniversary fell on a Wednesday and I new what I wanted to get Peter for a gift but I had been too busy to get to the store to pick it up. I figured since the store was next door to where we have lunch I could leave early and grab the gift, have it wrapped just before meeting Peter for lunch.
Revolution Art Gallery is a place that sells art by local artist a lot of the art is created from recycled products , its a great place to find one of a kind gifts and lets you support a local artist. One of the artists that is featured at the gallery makes fantastic clocks out of corrugated cardboard they have personality and charm. There were two clocks that had been on display for awhile but they were a bit pricey for cardboard. One of the clocks seemed to really fit my personality and the other one seemed more like Peter. After thinking about it I really wanted to give Peter the clock that seemed to represented myself. It's a small square clock about 6 inches tall and by 6inches wide. The different colors of cardboard that make the sides have a unique design and around the face of the clock there are old postage stamps. The stamps all have something to do with various types of air travel from hot air balloons, airplanes , space travel , blimps, all things I really love. So it seemed like the perfect gift to share with they guy I love. So I went ahead and spent $125 on a cardboard clock had it gift wrapped and told the clerk I was meeting my husband for lunch and was giving him the clock as an anniversary gift. I left the store and headed to our private meeting place.
Little did I know that as I was walking around the front of the building Peter was coming around the building from the back side. We were later told that we were only about 30 seconds apart. He too had a mission as he had also seen the clock with the air travel stamps and thought it would be a perfect gift. When he got into the store to purchase the clock it it was gone. He saw the other small clock that instead of stamps of airplanes and reference to air travel this clock had had music notes positioned creatively around the face. As a lover of music he decided he would purchase this clock and share with me something that he really loves. He bought the clock had it gift wrapped and told the sales clerk he was meeting his wife for lunch and would be giving her the clock as an anniversary gift. He then rushed off to our meeting place.
What we both found out later was the clerk at the art shop was really wishing that see new where we were having lunch. worried that we would want to return one of the clocks she called the owned of the store to share what had transpired over the past ten minutes. Both the clerk and the owner agreed that when we returned we could have a refund on one of the clocks.
Who in there right mind would want two cardboard clocks at a $125 each? The owner and the clerk where sure that once the gifts where opened we wouldn't want to keep 2 6ich square cardboard clocks for a total of $250. The owner told the clerk that it t would be okay to do a refund. So the clerk sat at the store and waited for our lunch to end to see if we would be back.
Once Peter arrived at the secret meeting place we ordered our lunch and traded gifts. We laughed when we saw what we each had picked out for the other. Peter and I shared our stories about how we had both just purchased them. Our waiter Dale was amazed as he looked at the almost identical one of a kind clocks that we had placed on the widow sill. He said, " you too think a lot a like you are meant to be together. " We had a hard time not laughing every time we glanced at our gifts.
After lunch we walked back to the gallery and as soon as the clerk saw us she told us she had called the owner and had permission to return one of the clocks. She couldn't believe that the clocks had sat in the store untouched for over 6 months and then purchased the same day. We explained that we were not there to return our gifts just to tell her it was pretty funny and to thank her for her part of making our anniversary memorable as it was obviously not easy for to keep a straight face when she was selling the 2nd clock.
The clocks are kept in each of our offices and each time I look at the time I remember a special day that was full of love and silliness.
May 25 , 2006 our anniversary fell on a Wednesday and I new what I wanted to get Peter for a gift but I had been too busy to get to the store to pick it up. I figured since the store was next door to where we have lunch I could leave early and grab the gift, have it wrapped just before meeting Peter for lunch.
Revolution Art Gallery is a place that sells art by local artist a lot of the art is created from recycled products , its a great place to find one of a kind gifts and lets you support a local artist. One of the artists that is featured at the gallery makes fantastic clocks out of corrugated cardboard they have personality and charm. There were two clocks that had been on display for awhile but they were a bit pricey for cardboard. One of the clocks seemed to really fit my personality and the other one seemed more like Peter. After thinking about it I really wanted to give Peter the clock that seemed to represented myself. It's a small square clock about 6 inches tall and by 6inches wide. The different colors of cardboard that make the sides have a unique design and around the face of the clock there are old postage stamps. The stamps all have something to do with various types of air travel from hot air balloons, airplanes , space travel , blimps, all things I really love. So it seemed like the perfect gift to share with they guy I love. So I went ahead and spent $125 on a cardboard clock had it gift wrapped and told the clerk I was meeting my husband for lunch and was giving him the clock as an anniversary gift. I left the store and headed to our private meeting place.
Little did I know that as I was walking around the front of the building Peter was coming around the building from the back side. We were later told that we were only about 30 seconds apart. He too had a mission as he had also seen the clock with the air travel stamps and thought it would be a perfect gift. When he got into the store to purchase the clock it it was gone. He saw the other small clock that instead of stamps of airplanes and reference to air travel this clock had had music notes positioned creatively around the face. As a lover of music he decided he would purchase this clock and share with me something that he really loves. He bought the clock had it gift wrapped and told the sales clerk he was meeting his wife for lunch and would be giving her the clock as an anniversary gift. He then rushed off to our meeting place.
What we both found out later was the clerk at the art shop was really wishing that see new where we were having lunch. worried that we would want to return one of the clocks she called the owned of the store to share what had transpired over the past ten minutes. Both the clerk and the owner agreed that when we returned we could have a refund on one of the clocks.
Who in there right mind would want two cardboard clocks at a $125 each? The owner and the clerk where sure that once the gifts where opened we wouldn't want to keep 2 6ich square cardboard clocks for a total of $250. The owner told the clerk that it t would be okay to do a refund. So the clerk sat at the store and waited for our lunch to end to see if we would be back.
Once Peter arrived at the secret meeting place we ordered our lunch and traded gifts. We laughed when we saw what we each had picked out for the other. Peter and I shared our stories about how we had both just purchased them. Our waiter Dale was amazed as he looked at the almost identical one of a kind clocks that we had placed on the widow sill. He said, " you too think a lot a like you are meant to be together. " We had a hard time not laughing every time we glanced at our gifts.
After lunch we walked back to the gallery and as soon as the clerk saw us she told us she had called the owner and had permission to return one of the clocks. She couldn't believe that the clocks had sat in the store untouched for over 6 months and then purchased the same day. We explained that we were not there to return our gifts just to tell her it was pretty funny and to thank her for her part of making our anniversary memorable as it was obviously not easy for to keep a straight face when she was selling the 2nd clock.
The clocks are kept in each of our offices and each time I look at the time I remember a special day that was full of love and silliness.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Cold Masks
It’s been a rough few weeks at our house. Hosting a sick house guest, then playing nursemaid to a sick husband and now our youngest daughter stayed home from school. With a runny nose, sore throat, cough and mild aches and pains she came down stairs this morning and said, “I think I have what dad had.” I told her to go back to bed and I called the school to have her excused. Around 10 AM she got up to take some cold medicine and asked me, “Why don’t people in the United States use cold masks when they are sick to help keep from spreading germs?” Good question, I had always figured it was for vanity reasons. Then she shared with me that in other countries it is considered to be polite to wear a mask to keep from spreading germs and that if she had a mask she could have roughed it out and attended school today. Am I a bad parent for not thinking of stocking the house with cold masks? I honestly can’t imagine being in high school and wearing a cold mask to classes it seems so uncool. I am obviously more shallow than my 16 year old! It’s nice to know she stayed home to keep from spreading germs but now I am wondering why cold masks are not catching on in the US? To avoid the risk of losing class credits many students go to school sick. To avoid the loss of income many responsible adults go to work sick. Do we need designer masks or just reminders that the masks are to keep from spreading germs not to protect us from catching them? Is it selfishness or is it vanity that keeps us from protecting others or is it something completely different?
Cynthia Freese
Issaquah
Cynthia Freese
Issaquah
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Dear Grandma,
As I tried to get myself into sleep mode last night my thoughts drifted to you. I went back through time and was thinking about my happiest childhood memories. Most of which were with you and Grandpa. I reflected on my young years playing outside at the Edgewood/ Milton house. I thought about the one and only time you ever spanked me, I was between the ages of 3-5 years old and I had crossed the street to check your mail. I thought I was being a good helper and in turn my good deed was rewarded with a swat on the bottom, followed with hugs where I was almost drowned in tears and almost died from having the life hugged out of me. I felt so loved!
Other firsts:
You wrote me the first poem I ever received , it was on a little piece of notebook paper: It went something like:
As the sun shines on your golden hair and eyes of blue and your mind is worry free
I will think of you, will you sometimes think of me?
Love
Gram T
Plum trees, gardening, swinging on the swing under the apple or was it a pear tree in the back yard? Making daisy chain crowns and of course picking dandelions. I have planted a plum tree at every house I have ever owned. This house I planted two. I prefer to spend time in the yard than doing housework!
I remember laying on my back in your back yard looking at the sky and watching the clouds I was certain that the earth was moving and not the clouds. I remember talking with you about what animals I saw in the clouds. Bunnies always bunnies!
I remember the man who tried to get me to look in his car so he could give me a bunny? I was riding my bike on the hill near your house and a man in a little red Volkswagen pulled up and tired to give me a bunny. I rode my bike as fast as I could back to your place because I was sure he was trying to abduct me. He count figure out why a little girl wouldn’t want a bunny and followed me to your house. He really had a little bunny which I was allowed to keep but once at home our tom cat pounced on it and snapped its neck.
Bunnies!
Going to Wyoming to visit Sharon and Paul with you and Grandpa and Uncle Randy for Easter was also one of my childhood highlights! I still have a photo Randy took of us standing in front of an old cover wagon that was parked off the side of the road near a filling station. It snowed for Easter and I got the most adorable yellow bunny. If that rabbit should talk! It’s 41 -42 years old eyes falling out and I think its being held together with a combination of snot and tears love and a bit of dust. I have carried that darn rabbit around with me every where I have gone. I took it to church summer camps, military boot camp , honeymoon, vacations, it’s been kidnapped and held for ransom by different friends at least a dozen times over the years. Three of my most favorite things are things I received from you and grandpa, The Swan Princess book, and the little gold swan ring holder / box and yellow bunny.
You get all the credit for introducing me to music and sharing with me some of my life long favorite silly songs:
Listening to you play guitar and yodel what fun! I remember once Auntie Sharon drawing faces on her toes and having them dance while you played and sang!
Birdie, birdie in the sky dropped some white wash in my eye
I am a big girl I don’t cry
I am just glad the cows don’t fly.
(This song still makes people giggle)
I had me a chicken that wouldn’t lay an egg so I poured hot water up and down its leg
The little chicken hollered and the little chicken begged but the little chicken laid me a hard boiled egg! Yee haw!
Cottage cheese, I had some at your house and I remember throwing up on the floor in front of your fridge. I still can’t eat cottage cheese unless of course it’s mixed with potatoes in a dumpling.
Bread pudding & milk toast were never better than if you made them they are still my comfort foods.
You made me feel so important by letting me play messenger for you when you were mad at Grandpa, I can see the house and the rooms as if it were yesterday! He was on the living room I seem to remember birds and greyhounds on the sofa or the wall paper I got to go tell him he was an old poop! He then gave me a message to give to you. You were in your bedroom and you had the neat red wall paper that always reminded me of a bandana.
I remember waking up at your house one morning and coming down stairs an having to follow a string around the house which eventually led me outside to find my first bike. Oh the joy and excitement!
My love of riding hills must go back to the early days of peddling from your house up the hill towards the house where I lived as an infant.
I wrote this a while back to share with my cycling team at a fundraiser event. There is a bit of fiction for appeal but most is from my heart.
The Church of Bike is Always Open
In the Church of Bike, I would be a sweat-slathered gospel singer belting out praises and stepping side to side to the beat of the divine cadence. My Lycra robes would be soaked and I would throw toothy smiles to my bike, who would lean on an indoor rack in the front most pew. Membership is easy in the Church of Bike. It only requires one to speak of the possibilities of cycling. All are welcome in the Church of Bike. It is compatible with any faith.
Cycling has the potential to be a spiritual act. By spiritual act, I mean an act that leads someone to access that which is intangible, that which is of spirit, that which is greater than the self. Possibly, you think that “spirituality” is for people clad in loose –fitting organic hemp who place crystals on corresponding chakras to balance their energy bodies. However, you can identify with the Church of Bike if you know the elation of beginning a descent after a brutal climb or if you have been seized by overwhelming love for your cycling buddy. If you find deep satisfaction in returning home from a ride covered in mud and bleeding from at least two different places, or if you have figured out a tiny aspect of your life after a long ride , then you understand the church of Bike.
I have not always seen the correlation between cycling and spiritual practice. I begrudgingly began riding as a child. My grandmother thought it was really fun to outfit me with a bike and weird gear and drag me out to nearby trails. Even though I was embarrassed about grandma’s neon bike outfits, I still evolved into a bike enthusiast. The correlation between biking and spiritual practice became apparent to me while I was trying to learn about meditation and yogo a few years ago. Sitting still just has never worked for me.
When I started incorporating spiritual practices into my life, my experience unfortunately were not always revelatory or drenched in white light. Mostly, I came to recognize that my mind is like a Tasmanian Devil who darts in circles and on occasionally clunks herself over the head with a large mammals femur. However, along with the discouraging realization looking at yoga and meditation also gave me a path to calm the whirling mind. As I began to bike more, I realized that cycling clears the mind just like other spiritual practices. While charging up a hill on my bike, the femur-wielding Tasmanian devil can hold no forum. My mind has to assume complete focus if I am to ride to the best of my ability. An Intense quiet takes over. It is, in fact, a meditative state.
The purpose of creating a serene state of mind is not solely to enjoy a reality more pleasant than tumult. Rather, in a serene state of mind, truth becomes clearer. And isn’t the pursuit of truth the point in this insane world of exultation, devastation, birth, life, and death? Cycling, like mediation or yoga can create a frame of mind where truth is present
In the Church of Bike, Cyclists take a refuge under the vaulted dome of their own toil. They relish in the beauty of knowing that the God’s vehicle takes the form of a simple machine underneath their butt. Will I have figures of Lance Armstrong and his incarnations on a shrine in my house Definitely not. Will I wash my bike in holly water probably not. However I will subscribe to the Church of Bike because cycling is a cherished practice, and I will be a dedicated practitioner until my body doesn’t work anymore. Halleujah.
C. Freese
Thanks so much for the encouragement you have always given me!
I have just signed up to do a fundraising ride for cancer. This time my ride will take me around Lake Tahoe. It’s 100 of Americans most beautiful miles which includes a nasty 8 mile hill that is a major altitude climb.
As I ride my bike in the cold wet snowy weather I am able to separate myself from the chills and numbness and pain as the pain of pushing oneself on a upward incline on a bike is nothing compared to what people living with cancer face daily.
When I ride no matter what the weather imagine the sun shines on me and my mind is free from care and I can think of you.
Love,
Your first grand daughter
Cynthia
PS. For my 50th birthday I am planning to ride my bike from Washington State to Washington DC in 30 days! I still have a year or two to train!
As I tried to get myself into sleep mode last night my thoughts drifted to you. I went back through time and was thinking about my happiest childhood memories. Most of which were with you and Grandpa. I reflected on my young years playing outside at the Edgewood/ Milton house. I thought about the one and only time you ever spanked me, I was between the ages of 3-5 years old and I had crossed the street to check your mail. I thought I was being a good helper and in turn my good deed was rewarded with a swat on the bottom, followed with hugs where I was almost drowned in tears and almost died from having the life hugged out of me. I felt so loved!
Other firsts:
You wrote me the first poem I ever received , it was on a little piece of notebook paper: It went something like:
As the sun shines on your golden hair and eyes of blue and your mind is worry free
I will think of you, will you sometimes think of me?
Love
Gram T
Plum trees, gardening, swinging on the swing under the apple or was it a pear tree in the back yard? Making daisy chain crowns and of course picking dandelions. I have planted a plum tree at every house I have ever owned. This house I planted two. I prefer to spend time in the yard than doing housework!
I remember laying on my back in your back yard looking at the sky and watching the clouds I was certain that the earth was moving and not the clouds. I remember talking with you about what animals I saw in the clouds. Bunnies always bunnies!
I remember the man who tried to get me to look in his car so he could give me a bunny? I was riding my bike on the hill near your house and a man in a little red Volkswagen pulled up and tired to give me a bunny. I rode my bike as fast as I could back to your place because I was sure he was trying to abduct me. He count figure out why a little girl wouldn’t want a bunny and followed me to your house. He really had a little bunny which I was allowed to keep but once at home our tom cat pounced on it and snapped its neck.
Bunnies!
Going to Wyoming to visit Sharon and Paul with you and Grandpa and Uncle Randy for Easter was also one of my childhood highlights! I still have a photo Randy took of us standing in front of an old cover wagon that was parked off the side of the road near a filling station. It snowed for Easter and I got the most adorable yellow bunny. If that rabbit should talk! It’s 41 -42 years old eyes falling out and I think its being held together with a combination of snot and tears love and a bit of dust. I have carried that darn rabbit around with me every where I have gone. I took it to church summer camps, military boot camp , honeymoon, vacations, it’s been kidnapped and held for ransom by different friends at least a dozen times over the years. Three of my most favorite things are things I received from you and grandpa, The Swan Princess book, and the little gold swan ring holder / box and yellow bunny.
You get all the credit for introducing me to music and sharing with me some of my life long favorite silly songs:
Listening to you play guitar and yodel what fun! I remember once Auntie Sharon drawing faces on her toes and having them dance while you played and sang!
Birdie, birdie in the sky dropped some white wash in my eye
I am a big girl I don’t cry
I am just glad the cows don’t fly.
(This song still makes people giggle)
I had me a chicken that wouldn’t lay an egg so I poured hot water up and down its leg
The little chicken hollered and the little chicken begged but the little chicken laid me a hard boiled egg! Yee haw!
Cottage cheese, I had some at your house and I remember throwing up on the floor in front of your fridge. I still can’t eat cottage cheese unless of course it’s mixed with potatoes in a dumpling.
Bread pudding & milk toast were never better than if you made them they are still my comfort foods.
You made me feel so important by letting me play messenger for you when you were mad at Grandpa, I can see the house and the rooms as if it were yesterday! He was on the living room I seem to remember birds and greyhounds on the sofa or the wall paper I got to go tell him he was an old poop! He then gave me a message to give to you. You were in your bedroom and you had the neat red wall paper that always reminded me of a bandana.
I remember waking up at your house one morning and coming down stairs an having to follow a string around the house which eventually led me outside to find my first bike. Oh the joy and excitement!
My love of riding hills must go back to the early days of peddling from your house up the hill towards the house where I lived as an infant.
I wrote this a while back to share with my cycling team at a fundraiser event. There is a bit of fiction for appeal but most is from my heart.
The Church of Bike is Always Open
In the Church of Bike, I would be a sweat-slathered gospel singer belting out praises and stepping side to side to the beat of the divine cadence. My Lycra robes would be soaked and I would throw toothy smiles to my bike, who would lean on an indoor rack in the front most pew. Membership is easy in the Church of Bike. It only requires one to speak of the possibilities of cycling. All are welcome in the Church of Bike. It is compatible with any faith.
Cycling has the potential to be a spiritual act. By spiritual act, I mean an act that leads someone to access that which is intangible, that which is of spirit, that which is greater than the self. Possibly, you think that “spirituality” is for people clad in loose –fitting organic hemp who place crystals on corresponding chakras to balance their energy bodies. However, you can identify with the Church of Bike if you know the elation of beginning a descent after a brutal climb or if you have been seized by overwhelming love for your cycling buddy. If you find deep satisfaction in returning home from a ride covered in mud and bleeding from at least two different places, or if you have figured out a tiny aspect of your life after a long ride , then you understand the church of Bike.
I have not always seen the correlation between cycling and spiritual practice. I begrudgingly began riding as a child. My grandmother thought it was really fun to outfit me with a bike and weird gear and drag me out to nearby trails. Even though I was embarrassed about grandma’s neon bike outfits, I still evolved into a bike enthusiast. The correlation between biking and spiritual practice became apparent to me while I was trying to learn about meditation and yogo a few years ago. Sitting still just has never worked for me.
When I started incorporating spiritual practices into my life, my experience unfortunately were not always revelatory or drenched in white light. Mostly, I came to recognize that my mind is like a Tasmanian Devil who darts in circles and on occasionally clunks herself over the head with a large mammals femur. However, along with the discouraging realization looking at yoga and meditation also gave me a path to calm the whirling mind. As I began to bike more, I realized that cycling clears the mind just like other spiritual practices. While charging up a hill on my bike, the femur-wielding Tasmanian devil can hold no forum. My mind has to assume complete focus if I am to ride to the best of my ability. An Intense quiet takes over. It is, in fact, a meditative state.
The purpose of creating a serene state of mind is not solely to enjoy a reality more pleasant than tumult. Rather, in a serene state of mind, truth becomes clearer. And isn’t the pursuit of truth the point in this insane world of exultation, devastation, birth, life, and death? Cycling, like mediation or yoga can create a frame of mind where truth is present
In the Church of Bike, Cyclists take a refuge under the vaulted dome of their own toil. They relish in the beauty of knowing that the God’s vehicle takes the form of a simple machine underneath their butt. Will I have figures of Lance Armstrong and his incarnations on a shrine in my house Definitely not. Will I wash my bike in holly water probably not. However I will subscribe to the Church of Bike because cycling is a cherished practice, and I will be a dedicated practitioner until my body doesn’t work anymore. Halleujah.
C. Freese
Thanks so much for the encouragement you have always given me!
I have just signed up to do a fundraising ride for cancer. This time my ride will take me around Lake Tahoe. It’s 100 of Americans most beautiful miles which includes a nasty 8 mile hill that is a major altitude climb.
As I ride my bike in the cold wet snowy weather I am able to separate myself from the chills and numbness and pain as the pain of pushing oneself on a upward incline on a bike is nothing compared to what people living with cancer face daily.
When I ride no matter what the weather imagine the sun shines on me and my mind is free from care and I can think of you.
Love,
Your first grand daughter
Cynthia
PS. For my 50th birthday I am planning to ride my bike from Washington State to Washington DC in 30 days! I still have a year or two to train!
team training the riding continues
Saturday morning April 14th 8 am: I jump out of bed and I load up my bike and gear up. I rush to the Redmond QFC located just off Novelty hill road to meet with a group of dedicated riders that ride no matter what the weather. We are riding as many of you know because we are training for a century ride around Lake Tahoe on June 3rd to help raise funds for the Leukemia Lymphoma society.
On the drive to the parking lot I ate an orange and once I got to the parking lot I scoffed down a raspberry yogurt and pumped up my tires. Okay, I better give credit where credit is do, James pumped up my tires as I changed shoes and put my shoe covers on so my feet would stay warm and dry. Another wet cold day for a ride. It was suggested we bring snorkel‘s with us. I sometimes wonder why I signed up to do this.
Being so busy at work I had not taken time to read about this weeks ride so I was clueless to where this ride was taking us or how far we would ride.
I am handed a map and I take a peek. It says Trilogy Snohomish / Monroe 46.4 miles 1 hour and 39 minutes. (Driving time) I did 50 miles two weeks before so I am not concerned.
Before leaving the parking lot this week’s ride was dedicated to Allison, Allison is 21 years old and just received a diagnose of having Leukemia as her birthday present this past week. Now, I remember why I signed up to do this!
As I start to peddle away from the parking lot I am secretly praying that I can stay in a vertical upright position throughout the day. My knees and elbows have finally healed from all the falling and I just had to invest in a new helmet (see last email on why I needed a new helmet).
Fresh air, rolling hills, and a nice down hill start 4.11 miles of down hill to start. Whoo hoo! This is really fun!
Then from out of no where a big black barking dog starts chasing after me! I reach for my tire pump to swing at it. Shit! the tire pump is still in the car. I start to raise my right foot to shake at it and Shit! Foot is stuck in clip and I really don’t want to fall. So option three, I scream and scream and dog continues to chase me and bark. I managed to out peddle him and stay on my bike. Major accomplishment!
Mile 5: It’s flat for about 50 feet! Then we get the rolling hills, the wind in our faces, and the smell of the country. Oh how lovely the smell of the country is when your peddling up hill trying to breath in and out and as you inhale the smell of cow dung goes deep into your lungs to the point of actually tasting it. Yum, Yum! This is how I spend my free time. This is usually a good time to remind myself why I am doing this again.
Mile 10: Coach Robin is telling us to eat and drink; she wants us to do this while riding. I am trying to tell her that it’s better to stop to do this because I wasn’t ready to kiss the highway. Robin said,” no stopping! Eat and drink!” Robin would make a great Drill Sgt. She actually had a fun cadence for our hill climbs and she doesn’t put up with much. I finally got to a point where I figured okay I will give it a go I am thirsty and I need to drink. I am on a small downward incline and so I don’t have to peddle I can coast and drink. That’s when I hit a rock ,dropped the water bottle and I quickly decided that if I tried to stop I would most likely fall or cause someone else to fall so I left the bottle for my team mates to ride around. We were doing line riding which means we have about 6 inches between us. So you can see if I stop with out warning everyone could end up kissing the roadside. So I am down to one water bottle.
Around Mile 14: the road changes to Elliot Road. It should be called Elliot hill and it was about 3 miles straight up. I had to stop halfway and get rid of some of the layers I was wearing as I was really warming up. My team mates stopped for a rest as well and we joked about taking a nap on the side of the road and they teased me a bit about my road side strip tease. I didn’t want to ride up Elliot hill and if bike shoes were easier to walk in I would have walked but given that bike shoes are made for peddling and not walking it is actually harder to walk than to ride. So the ride continues.
At the top of Elliot Hill Coach Robin tells us we are less than ten miles form the Snohomish bakery which she goes on to tell us is famous for the wonderful collection of homemade pies. She urges us to peddle faster so we can have some pie! We started peddling really fast as the thought of pie after Elliot hill was mouth watering. We were working on line riding most the day and the closer you ride to the person in front of you the muddier you get. I promise to include a photo of how we all looked when we arrived at the bakery for pie as someone on the team snapped some photos of us.
Mile 26 or so we have reached the bakery and we were all starving! I ordered a big slice of strawberry rhubarb pie and an apple juice and sat with a our foursome after sitting for a couple minutes I started to wonder if I was going to be able to lift myself off the chair.
As we started to head out another group of cyclists pulled up and asked if we saved any pie. The Snohomish bakery seems to be the place to go for pie. I can personally highly recommend it.
As we were leaving I was relieved that we are heading back a different direction as that 4.11 mile down hill start would not make a fun ending to the days so called rolling hill ride. It’s amazing how warm you get riding. After sitting and having pie and juice the first few minutes back on the saddle was a bit chilly. We rode for about 10-12miles or so and we stopped at a park where Bill had stopped to provide energy drinks and snacks. It seemed strange that we would stop for pie and snacks but heck I am not one to complain about being forced to snack on gummy bears and potato chips. Go with the flow is my attitude.
The last 12-15 miles: I started to get really tired. I kept telling myself that I needed to starting getting up earlier before rides and eat a good breakfast. Saturday is for sleeping in and given the option to get up early or wait until the last possible moment sleeping until the last possible moment wins hands down.
We had crossed a bridge and gathered so Coach Robin could give us advice on preparing for the last portion of the ride. This seemed odd as well. She proceeded to tell us we would be taking Snoqualmie Valley road NE up for 2.3 miles and then we would take a left on to 232nd Ave NE which was up 1.4 miles and then we would go left on to Trilogy PKY for a 1.2 miles which was up just a little more.
Did Coach Robin trick us? How did we get back to the bottom of the hill we came down? If I had bothered to turn over my directions I would have noticed by the map that we did a big loop and were going to end up back at the big hills we came down. If I had only looked before I abandoned my car. I would have started the ride at the bottom of the hill to spare myself going back up.
4.11 miles up hill and my ass was dragging. My legs were killing me and if I only had some water left! I started to feel dizzy so I though I better get off and walk. I was wishing I had given my car keys to someone so they could come pick me up.
By this point I am alone the last person on the hill. I have finally reached a nice down hill and I wondering if I missed my turn because I really didn’t remember riding up this one. I noticed a car heading my direction so I stopped and waved them down. The woman stopped and I asked her, “Which way to Trinity hill?” She said,” go left at the bottom of the hill, but you really don’t want to ride up it do you? “. I told her I was worried I passed it and if I had I didn’t want to turn around at the bottom of this hill only to go back up it as I am tired. She offered to give me a ride and I told her I was training for a century with team training in Tahoe and she asked for more info. I took out one of my letters that I keep handy and gave it to her. I thanked her and headed down the hill.
Do you believe in Angels? I met one on my way up Trinity Hill. I am not sure were he came from as he seemed to show up out of thin air. He was probably in his 60’s and appeared to be in excellent shape. He literally seemed to pop up out of thin air on his shiny very expensive looking bike. I was stopped part way up the last hill and I heard a voice behind me ask if I was okay. I laughed and said, “Sure I am just tired, but I am almost finished.” I had been huffing and puffing and maybe cussing a little wondering if I was ever going to make it to my car. I guess I didn’t hear him behind me with all my heavy breathing. He offered me a fresh bottle of water, I told him where my car was parked, and he told me to get back on my bike and ride. He stayed with me talking to me which helped me not think about how much I ached. When we reached the light across from my starting point, he turned left and vanished down the hill and I turned right where I was greeted by Coach Robin and my teammates.
49.4 miles and I didn’t fall, at least not until I got home and decided to take a quick spin up my neighbors drive way (Peter actually got a photo of this fall).
The benefits of this weeks ride, I found a great place to go have pie: which I would probably drive to next time
Having my teammate waiting for me and cheering me on actually made me forget about how hard it was and just made it all worth it.
Thanks again for supporting me and my journey
I have included elevation map of what I will be going up against in June http://www.bikethewest.com/Art/AMBBR-Elev.jpg
This June I am peddling 100 miles to help find a cure for blood cancers
http://www.active.com/donate/tntwaak/evergirl
Thanks again
Cynthia Freese
On the drive to the parking lot I ate an orange and once I got to the parking lot I scoffed down a raspberry yogurt and pumped up my tires. Okay, I better give credit where credit is do, James pumped up my tires as I changed shoes and put my shoe covers on so my feet would stay warm and dry. Another wet cold day for a ride. It was suggested we bring snorkel‘s with us. I sometimes wonder why I signed up to do this.
Being so busy at work I had not taken time to read about this weeks ride so I was clueless to where this ride was taking us or how far we would ride.
I am handed a map and I take a peek. It says Trilogy Snohomish / Monroe 46.4 miles 1 hour and 39 minutes. (Driving time) I did 50 miles two weeks before so I am not concerned.
Before leaving the parking lot this week’s ride was dedicated to Allison, Allison is 21 years old and just received a diagnose of having Leukemia as her birthday present this past week. Now, I remember why I signed up to do this!
As I start to peddle away from the parking lot I am secretly praying that I can stay in a vertical upright position throughout the day. My knees and elbows have finally healed from all the falling and I just had to invest in a new helmet (see last email on why I needed a new helmet).
Fresh air, rolling hills, and a nice down hill start 4.11 miles of down hill to start. Whoo hoo! This is really fun!
Then from out of no where a big black barking dog starts chasing after me! I reach for my tire pump to swing at it. Shit! the tire pump is still in the car. I start to raise my right foot to shake at it and Shit! Foot is stuck in clip and I really don’t want to fall. So option three, I scream and scream and dog continues to chase me and bark. I managed to out peddle him and stay on my bike. Major accomplishment!
Mile 5: It’s flat for about 50 feet! Then we get the rolling hills, the wind in our faces, and the smell of the country. Oh how lovely the smell of the country is when your peddling up hill trying to breath in and out and as you inhale the smell of cow dung goes deep into your lungs to the point of actually tasting it. Yum, Yum! This is how I spend my free time. This is usually a good time to remind myself why I am doing this again.
Mile 10: Coach Robin is telling us to eat and drink; she wants us to do this while riding. I am trying to tell her that it’s better to stop to do this because I wasn’t ready to kiss the highway. Robin said,” no stopping! Eat and drink!” Robin would make a great Drill Sgt. She actually had a fun cadence for our hill climbs and she doesn’t put up with much. I finally got to a point where I figured okay I will give it a go I am thirsty and I need to drink. I am on a small downward incline and so I don’t have to peddle I can coast and drink. That’s when I hit a rock ,dropped the water bottle and I quickly decided that if I tried to stop I would most likely fall or cause someone else to fall so I left the bottle for my team mates to ride around. We were doing line riding which means we have about 6 inches between us. So you can see if I stop with out warning everyone could end up kissing the roadside. So I am down to one water bottle.
Around Mile 14: the road changes to Elliot Road. It should be called Elliot hill and it was about 3 miles straight up. I had to stop halfway and get rid of some of the layers I was wearing as I was really warming up. My team mates stopped for a rest as well and we joked about taking a nap on the side of the road and they teased me a bit about my road side strip tease. I didn’t want to ride up Elliot hill and if bike shoes were easier to walk in I would have walked but given that bike shoes are made for peddling and not walking it is actually harder to walk than to ride. So the ride continues.
At the top of Elliot Hill Coach Robin tells us we are less than ten miles form the Snohomish bakery which she goes on to tell us is famous for the wonderful collection of homemade pies. She urges us to peddle faster so we can have some pie! We started peddling really fast as the thought of pie after Elliot hill was mouth watering. We were working on line riding most the day and the closer you ride to the person in front of you the muddier you get. I promise to include a photo of how we all looked when we arrived at the bakery for pie as someone on the team snapped some photos of us.
Mile 26 or so we have reached the bakery and we were all starving! I ordered a big slice of strawberry rhubarb pie and an apple juice and sat with a our foursome after sitting for a couple minutes I started to wonder if I was going to be able to lift myself off the chair.
As we started to head out another group of cyclists pulled up and asked if we saved any pie. The Snohomish bakery seems to be the place to go for pie. I can personally highly recommend it.
As we were leaving I was relieved that we are heading back a different direction as that 4.11 mile down hill start would not make a fun ending to the days so called rolling hill ride. It’s amazing how warm you get riding. After sitting and having pie and juice the first few minutes back on the saddle was a bit chilly. We rode for about 10-12miles or so and we stopped at a park where Bill had stopped to provide energy drinks and snacks. It seemed strange that we would stop for pie and snacks but heck I am not one to complain about being forced to snack on gummy bears and potato chips. Go with the flow is my attitude.
The last 12-15 miles: I started to get really tired. I kept telling myself that I needed to starting getting up earlier before rides and eat a good breakfast. Saturday is for sleeping in and given the option to get up early or wait until the last possible moment sleeping until the last possible moment wins hands down.
We had crossed a bridge and gathered so Coach Robin could give us advice on preparing for the last portion of the ride. This seemed odd as well. She proceeded to tell us we would be taking Snoqualmie Valley road NE up for 2.3 miles and then we would take a left on to 232nd Ave NE which was up 1.4 miles and then we would go left on to Trilogy PKY for a 1.2 miles which was up just a little more.
Did Coach Robin trick us? How did we get back to the bottom of the hill we came down? If I had bothered to turn over my directions I would have noticed by the map that we did a big loop and were going to end up back at the big hills we came down. If I had only looked before I abandoned my car. I would have started the ride at the bottom of the hill to spare myself going back up.
4.11 miles up hill and my ass was dragging. My legs were killing me and if I only had some water left! I started to feel dizzy so I though I better get off and walk. I was wishing I had given my car keys to someone so they could come pick me up.
By this point I am alone the last person on the hill. I have finally reached a nice down hill and I wondering if I missed my turn because I really didn’t remember riding up this one. I noticed a car heading my direction so I stopped and waved them down. The woman stopped and I asked her, “Which way to Trinity hill?” She said,” go left at the bottom of the hill, but you really don’t want to ride up it do you? “. I told her I was worried I passed it and if I had I didn’t want to turn around at the bottom of this hill only to go back up it as I am tired. She offered to give me a ride and I told her I was training for a century with team training in Tahoe and she asked for more info. I took out one of my letters that I keep handy and gave it to her. I thanked her and headed down the hill.
Do you believe in Angels? I met one on my way up Trinity Hill. I am not sure were he came from as he seemed to show up out of thin air. He was probably in his 60’s and appeared to be in excellent shape. He literally seemed to pop up out of thin air on his shiny very expensive looking bike. I was stopped part way up the last hill and I heard a voice behind me ask if I was okay. I laughed and said, “Sure I am just tired, but I am almost finished.” I had been huffing and puffing and maybe cussing a little wondering if I was ever going to make it to my car. I guess I didn’t hear him behind me with all my heavy breathing. He offered me a fresh bottle of water, I told him where my car was parked, and he told me to get back on my bike and ride. He stayed with me talking to me which helped me not think about how much I ached. When we reached the light across from my starting point, he turned left and vanished down the hill and I turned right where I was greeted by Coach Robin and my teammates.
49.4 miles and I didn’t fall, at least not until I got home and decided to take a quick spin up my neighbors drive way (Peter actually got a photo of this fall).
The benefits of this weeks ride, I found a great place to go have pie: which I would probably drive to next time
Having my teammate waiting for me and cheering me on actually made me forget about how hard it was and just made it all worth it.
Thanks again for supporting me and my journey
I have included elevation map of what I will be going up against in June http://www.bikethewest.com/Art/AMBBR-Elev.jpg
This June I am peddling 100 miles to help find a cure for blood cancers
http://www.active.com/donate/tntwaak/evergirl
Thanks again
Cynthia Freese
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About Me
- Cynthia Freese
- Issaquah, WA, United States
- I am who I am because of thousands of life experiences