2022 is drawing to a close and so it seems is the daily drumbeat of negative health news. No matter what you believe about its origin, its seriousness, the effectiveness of vaccines, or public health policies here or abroad, Covid19 has brought change in the way we live out our lives. Fewer people are deathly ill with it now, although the disease itself is with us for the long haul. What changes has it brought for you? For me, my outside sales job went from frequent trips to knock on customer doors to more (home) office based email, telephone and internet contacts. It works, as 2022 is my biggest sales year so far, despite many challenges.
Do you remember "two weeks to flatten the curve?" The New York Times first reported on "Flattening The Coronavirus Curve" on 4/11/20. Parents off work for a couple of weeks were trying to entertain bored kids out of school for the same duration and bikes were a good way to do that. Many bikes needed service or repair, but the shops were all also closed. I started to help people in bigger numbers fix their bikes around this time and a friend sent me a poster (as a joke I think) that said "Prattville Bike Shop." So crammed in among the boxes and cars in our garage, I worked on bikes when I could. For my birthday in 2021, we got rack shelves and a workbench and organized half our garage space into a real bike repair shop. Daughter-in-law Alisha sent a Prattville Bike Shop sign that I put on the door of the garage drink fridge and we hung bike theme stuff on the walls. The shop became a Galatians 6:10 ministry for me. "As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone...." Really, my life needs to be that way, not just the shop. It operates in the afternoons when my workday is over, or in the early mornings, or on weekends. 6 - 10 people are helped on average every week. All kinds of bikes, from multi thousand dollar carbon Cervelo, Pinarello and Guru race machines, to Wal-Mart cheapie kid toys. We even made it to Google maps! We have never charged anyone for the work done at the shop or for parts that we have on hand. Sometimes, people who can and who want to offer to make a donation. We gratefully accept and appreciate them. They range from boxes of parts, tires and tubes to tools, and even cash. Earlier tonight, I placed a reorder for supplies on Amazon and donations make this easier for me. We continue to service bikes donated to the local club for re-homing and when we started doing that, the club reimbursed me for the parts and supplies I had to buy for the bikes. I am pleased that we are at a point with donations now that we have not had to get any money at all from the club this year. Recently, we met a woman at the club office to get her a re-homed Specialized Sirrus from the mid 90's for her husband, with a helmet and a safe cycling guide. A lot of (free!) work and parts went into it, but it's a solid bike and the new bike day smiles are always worth it.
The Covid-caused home based work schedule has opened up early mornings for me to ride during the week. I absolutely LOVE my little peloton! They put up with me for starters. They're loyal, encouraging, and just nice people to know. The mix of who rides on any given day is changeable but the spirit of it is the same no matter what. I appreciate them all. I discovered recumbent bikes this year too. A relocating friend clearing out a garage led me to take a road trip to New Orleans to pick up a Bacchetta Corsa V60. After a 10 hr or so learning curve, which included some tip overs and silly looking Fred Flintstone action, it clicked and I was comfy on it. I ride further and faster on it than my upright bikes, although climbing hills is harder. There has been improvement through practice as well as a second recumbent that is better configured for hills and rough roads.
Riding more has helped my effort to get slimmer, which in turn makes riding easier. I've gotten as close as within a pound of the original goal, but my weight floats back up again a pound or two. I'm happy though. I started the year heavier than I have been in decades and with poor test results for cholesterol and blood sugar. In April I got serious about eating better and exercising more. I dropped about 40 lbs by Thanksgiving. Now to keep it off. My total miles this year will be a personal best and so will the average pace. Climbing is down some, not uncommon in aging riders. Miles up and weight down is a winning combo.
What else in 2022? I was the moderator of our church presbytery this year. Kind of like a meeting chairman for about 50 churches in our part of the state. We had some additional special activity this year with some national and international church issues and it took time from my schedule. I feel blessed to have served though and to have met some fine leaders from other churches who attend the meetings. I also served as a "borrowed elder" for another local church to help train some men to assume leadership roles there. I am the chaplain in the Trail Life USA (a church based scouting style of group) troop that meets at our church, preparing and delivering a devotional message each week, and I teach Sunday school to adults. I've filled pulpits a couple of times for Baptists and Presbyterians this year too.
Being home more has given Sharon and me more time together. We enjoy just hanging out, doing errands together, anything really. We have become stay-at-homebodies for sure. Thanksgiving was our 46th anniversary and it gets better every year. Her thing is reading. She reads books like I ride bikes. Maybe more so. We each could probably do a little more of what the other does and gain from it. I still write a lot of letters. A number of new fountain pens have joined my collection this year and my interest in them has been re-kindled. I enjoy fitting vintage nibs in new pens to get the best of both. The hot rodded pens then see service in the writing of letters.
So life has shifted for me under Covid, but not all has been negative. Some changes are neutral, some have been positive. Sharon and I both got Covid around the same time in June. That was not fun. I will be pleased to not see Covid in our house again, ever. In fact, Covid could disappear and all the restrictions be lifted and that would be great! We can keep the lessons learned about remote working and efficient fast food drive through, but lose the arguing over booster effectiveness.
Thoughts for 2023? Do you make New Year resolutions? I don't. There are some things that I do think about for the year ahead though. Becoming more intentional in my prayers, especially for the welfare of others. Continuing to read through the Bible in a year as I have done for quite a while now. Reading more of other books. Continuing to fit in the pants I have reduced down to. Riding more. (including some longer distance routes with Randonneurs USA. Working on a P-12 award). I passed along the baton of RBA (Regional Brevet Advisor) for RUSA to other, capable, hands this year and next year I rotate off the board of the local bike club and out of my 2 chairman roles. I will not be a church moderator or borrowed elder next year so there will be some time available to relax, reflect, or work on more bikes at the shop! I'll continue to work for a living while there is work to be done. In February, there will be a company wide meeting in Phoenix to hear about plans and strategy.
However your 2022 has gone, I wish you a happy New Year and hope your 2023 is a great year. I pray that God extends his grace to you and blesses you. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
