Phantom Pain (or Amigas, Amigas, Amigas!) June 18, 2015

So I’m on the Metro the other day and I hop off at my destination but just as the subway doors close behind me I have a mini panic attack- oh no! Where’s Tanya? Again … riding in the bike lane approaching an intersection: crosswalk flashing red- 4, 3, 2 … OK, better slow down because we are both not going to make it across in time … oh, yeah, it’s just me.

“Her voice was soft and cool, her eyes were clear and bright, but she’s not there”

It’s been three days since the other bear boarded a Boeing bound for Bergstrom and I’m still looking for her in my rear-view mirror.

Huh?

I’ve been blessed in my life with the friendship and company of female traveling partners of the highest caliber. Shawn, Amanda, Jaclyn, Alisa, Lauren – are your ears burning? And of course, Tanya (the bear, not the bike, silly). I`m talking ’bout beautiful, tough, low-drag, aerodynamically optimized babes with fire in their bellies and the thirst to surf the wave of life. Women with the esprit de corps to accept generosity with geniality and face adversity with alacrity. Hmmm … sounds like another awesome gal I knew … my mother, Betty.

Tanya has proven no exception and although I’m sad to see her return to “normal” life, I am truly grateful for the time (and buckets of rice) we’ve shared over the past weeks. Our ride together featured 589 miles over terrain ranging from muddy snowmobile tracks in Maine to serious climbing on sketchy roads in Québec, most of it while enduring cold and damp weather conditions. It seemed like the tougher the going got the tougher Tanya became and I admire her natural proclivity ever to seek the intrinsic beauty and humor in every challenge. She is a joy to have in my life and I am proud to count her among my dearest friends. Her untamed enthusiasm and earnest curiosity keeps me young and her irreverent, unbridled sense of humor is my personal panacea. Thank you, Tanya, for being your awesome self and giving me a boost of encouragement at the commencement of my journey.