The crest of the hill is approaching. My legs are screaming. My neck is sore and my hands have fallen numb. I start to question myself.
"You aren't 25 any more, you idiot."
"Why do you always bite off more than you can chew?"
"Does this really mean anything in the long run?"
"You can quit right now and your family would still be proud of you."
I am 65 miles and over four hours from the start line. I am just barely over halfway to the finish. I'm spent.
Then I see him. Almost as if my wife knew precisely when and where I would need to see him most. They are parked on the roadside, not another soul around.
Temporarily distracted by a bird flying over his head, my wife taps him on the shoulder and points me out. "DADDY!" he exclaims. I stop just briefly and give him and my family a hug. He likes my silly helmet.
He doesn't understand what I'm doing. He doesn't understand the symbolism of my 100 mile Ride For Autism. I can't yet explain that this ride is a metaphor for our family's journey with its peaks and valleys and pain and joy. He doesn't yet grasp the lesson I am trying to teach him that nothing is impossible if you just have the heart to keep peddling.
He doesn't get any of that... yet.
One more kiss, one last squeeze. Back to my journey... back to my pain... back to my lesson. Just keep peddling, handsome... just keep peddling.
http://www.ride4autism.org
We may not be physically peddling on a bike, but we are peddling every inch with you - we feel your pain and we celebrate your tiniest joys - we just keep peddling right along with you and Eric!
ReplyDeleteYour blogs make grown men cry. God bless all of you. Eric, your dad is my hero too.
ReplyDeletebeautiful metaphor... thank-you for sharing
ReplyDeleteI no longer have the physical health to bike like that, but I definitely get the way the metaphor speaks to life with Autism. Both for the child and his/her parents. Keep peddling indeed... never give up. :)
Wonderful, you are an inspiration, so love reading about your families journey. We are on our own journey too, our son has ASD and he is the most wonderful, kind, loving and joyous person you could ever wish to meet. We too will keep peddling!
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