We talked on the phone yesterday. "I'm frigging angry!", she exclaimed time and again. In some ways I understood. Cassie had worked extremely hard for this race. It's not just the physical aspect but the financial aspect. She had to raise a ton of money just to make it work. For the better part of two years, her life consisted primarily of working out and begging for money.
Cassie is proud and dedicated. I can only imagine how hard it is for her to meet with her contributors, large and small, and let them know that their investment didn't pay off. How wrong she is! Their investment paid off in spades! All over the country there were people pulling for Cassie. Her main goal was to raise awareness for the plight of many veterans. I believe that she did that. The crew firmly believes that she gave her all. There is no more that a person could give.
For a brief period in all our lives, Cassie elevated us and made us better than we were before. There are no words that accurately convey the level of indebtedness that we all owe to Cassie.
It's because of the above reasons that I don't fully understand her anger. Maybe it's me. Maybe it's the aftereffects of a week of sleep deprivation on some old guy whose sleep patterns could normally be used to set the atomic clock.
It really doesn't matter how I feel. It only matters how Cassie feels. My wife and I are having dinner with her tomorrow. I'm planning on talking about baseball. How does baseball fit in I hear you whine?
It's simple. The first baseball game I ever saw was at Ebbett's Field watching the Brooklyn Dodgers. My Uncle Charlie was a huge fan. He even bought some of the seats when they were about to tear this beautiful monument to the national pastime down. In those early years of my life, I heard the same phrase declared time and again:
"Wait 'til next year!"
I loved the statement: For a brief period in all our lives, Cassie elevated us and made us better than we were before. There are no words that accurately convey the level of indebtedness that we all owe to Cassie.
ReplyDeleteTherein lies her legacy and the foundation for future adventures...
You fall down and you get up... Hope Springs ETERNAL!
On a very small scale, I understand Cassie's anger right now. As cyclists, each time we embark on a ride, no matter how long or short, casual or challenging, our #1 goal is to finish under our own power. Calling for the SAG, or climbing into the team car is not how we want any ride to end.
ReplyDeleteAnd although we know in the moment we had no more to give, as soon as the physical pain subsides and we thaw out, cool down, or un-cramp, we immediately wonder what might have been if only we'd kept riding for another mile, another hour...
Soon enough, we stop dwelling on the past and start focusing on how we'll train harder and ride smarter tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year.
Regardless of whether or not there is another RAAM in Cassie's future, I know she will never stop her efforts to 'honor all fallen heroes' and support our wounded warriors, whatever form that might take.