Why School Supplies? Why "break the pencil in half"

I started looking over my blog and realized, that I never truly explained why I use the phrase "for the child that breaks the pencil in half." When we were planning to go to Jamaica, I researched the country and found out that the children had relatively little in terms of school supplies. Once we picked the hotel, I arranged with one of the members of management to provide enough school supplies for one class. I was told that there would be 20 children in the class. So I proceeded to collect enough backpacks, pencils, school supplies, even supplies for teachers. Enough for 20 children. Once we were there I was told that while there were 20 children in a class, this was a one room school house and that there were a total of 50 children. All between the ages of 3 and 5. I cried when I realized that I did not have nearly enough supplies to go around. One of the local men saw me crying and said,
"Please, don't cry. We are grateful for whatever we receive. When I was growing up, if a child next to me did not have a pencil, I would cut the pencil in half and then we each would have one. That is the way of Jamaicans."
Imagine how happy I was to find out that we had enough pencils to give each child one of their own.

I started thinking about this. How many children would do this? How many communities are genuinely grateful for such supplies. Where do I find the children or child that will "break the pencil in half." ?

Spring is here!

Today was an incredibly beautiful day. I started at the Harley dealership down the road. I took many pictures, as this was their beginning of the season tent sale. I am not advertising for them, it is just that you meet some of the most unusual people there. What amazed me was what happens when you pull out a camera. I had people wanting to have their picture taken. I loved it. I took several pictures, good ones. . Once I learn how to post high pixel pictures, I will be post them.
Then I picked up Jose and we rode to Cathedral Caverns. I have been there twice, but have never actually been do the caverns themselves. The ride is the beauty. When people think of Alabama, they do not think of breathtaking valleys and beautiful rolling foothills. Nevertheless, they are there, and today I was able to experience them all. The redbuds are in full bloom and the dogwoods are just starting. This is one of my favorite times of the years to ride. The skies are so blue that they can overwhelm you. Spring days like this make the winter seem so long ago, despite the fact that I nearly froze about 10 days ago riding the bike back from the shop. Today was the kind of day that you get on the bike and forget about time, about problems, about anything other than the beauty of the day.

I feel that I should be writing about how we all make a difference for someone. The truth is, that today, I did not. I just rode, I rode for the day and I rode for me.

The Adventure is closer...

Well, we have finally picked a date to start the adventure. April 26th around noon. I'm thinking of heading East, but am not positive now. The trip is going to be about 3 days shorter than we originally thought, but it still is close to a month.

I want to be able to bring some school supplies with me, if we can identify those groups or children that will "break the pencil in half." Still looking for that very elusive trait. Also, if anyone has any ideas on possible beneficiaries, let us know! This is a group effort and anyone can be involved!

Also, start thinking about good places to ride. Not traditional motorcycle rides,but the ones that the idea takes your breath away. For me - I'm thinking the Amish country in PA and the Badlands. Other than that, the country is my guide!

I miss by bike or Baby, It's cold out there.

Someone just recently asked me if I had ridden much in 2008. I looked back and was surprised to realise that I had not ridden even half as I had in previous years. At first blush, I blamed it on the gas prices, but in retrospect, I just did not have my head in the game. I have learned that if your head is not in the right place - stay off the bike.

So this week I got Baby serviced. She had been abused by lesser mechanics and the one that knows her (and me), and even call her by name (Baby) is in another state, but reachable. By taking the back roads, it is an incredible ride up there, through creek laden vistas, curvy roads and beautiful peaks and valleys. So it seems like a good deal. The day I dropped Baby off, it was 70, the day before I picked her up, it was 80.

Last night, I rode home at the wonderful temperature of 35. This was fun, because it had rained a slight bit and I try to avoid riding if the temperature is below 36 degrees (that is the point at which bridges freeze). Plus, it was starting to get dark, which meant that Bambi as well as all sorts of other nocturnal animals, will start their way out of their homes and into the path of my bike. Not a good idea of taking unlit, very curvey backroads at dusk. Nope... high speed, four lanes, lots of traffic, but lots of lights, was the only answer.

I had my heated gear on, but for some reason, the wind just blew through me anyway. I thought that the short ride from Tennessee back to the house (about an hour) was one of the longest, grueling rides I have made in a long, long time. Now, it is going to be spring break, and I will once again be off the bike for a while as we vacation with the kids.

I lament over the hours lost off of Baby and the freedom and release that it gives me. I began to wonder, am I the only one that looks at last year and sees that the economy, the gas, just life, put us in a funk that just took our head out of the game? For those that ride, did last year affect your riding? If you had to do it again, would you have ridden more? Ridden less?