I apologize to my 3 avid readers for my apparent laziness. The truth is, I am preparing to visit a far off land. A place that is exotic, hot in the summer, cool and rainy in the winter. Best of all it is full of people that don't like me, well not specifically me but people like me....and you. This particular deployment will be unique and has taken a lot of additional effort to prepare for.
I have been able to enjoy some of the finer things in life though. I have spent a fair amount of time with my wife and kids. Since I have them, I might as well enjoy them. I have also been able to spend some time with the few quality friends that I have. You may have guessed that both involved bikes and in some cases fish; although not both at the same time, I am trying to figure out how to work that out though.
One of the great pleasure I have is bicycling, as I have said a hundred times (+/- 5 times). I feel like a kid when I do it. I love that Olivia rides very well and has a competitive spirit that drives her. The other day she rode her bike eight miles, a feat that would cripple many adults. Vance likes to pedal but becomes frustrated on hills, so I put him on the half bike. Emily pulls the other two in the trailer. Olivia got a new Mountain bike for Christmas and she uses the brake levers and shifter like a pro.
I recently found out about a path that follows the Appomattox River above the fall line. It is beautiful and user friendly to a point (at which point it becomes both muddy and extremely challenging). I am researching the history of the area because it is quite fascinating. Bellow are two stone arches.
These have been here for at least 100 years. I don't care how many Sunday School lessons I have had about keystones and arches, my heart pounds when Olivia runs over them.
Although I am sure that is why she does it too, she has a dare devil spirit.
Take this for example notice all of the kids playing. Now take notice of the pink in the tree. She wanted to go higher. I was not comfortable with that.
I think your Olivia would love my Rebecca. Trees are meant to be climbed. And every girl should have a mountain bike. And every girl should have a dad (like you) that loves his daughter enough to let go and let her enjoy things that are not too safe. Nobody wants to play on the sponge beds forever.;-)
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