A sense of accomplishment

I am an avid cycling fan, so every chance I get I watch the races as they unfold.  I am especially enamoured of Le Tour de France, which has to be the most epic of all sporting events.  Imagine riding over 3 000 kilometres over the space of 3 weeks with only 2 rest days, oh and add in multiple trips up the mountains of the Pyrenees and the Alps.  It boggles the mind!

Today I sat glued to the penultimate stage--a 42km time trial (man against clock).  The team I follow most closely, Léopard Trek, had a realistic chance to win the whole tour. All Andy Schleck had to do was ride the best time trial of his life and hope that Cadel Evans, a far superior TT rider and only 58 seconds behind Schleck, had an average day.  Alas, it was not to be. Evans had the TT of his life and ended up well over a minute ahead of Schleck, who now settles for his third consecutive second place at the Tour.

As I perused the various news reports of the day, I was struck by the tone of failure in which many portrayed Andy Schleck. This is a young man (he's 26) who for three years has managed to out distance about 197 other riders.  Schleck is not a great time trialist; he freely admits it is his weakest element. Today, he managed to place 17th on the stage. That's 17th out of over 160 other riders.  He placed ahead of the time trial champions of many nations.  And yet, this tone of failure from the media.  Oh yeah, did I mention the fact that Léopard Trek had four riders in the top 20 on the stage and that Andy's brother, Fränk, is in third overall?

I wonder why society has to accentuate the negative.  Why can't we simply acknowledge the effort and skill of those who achieve amazing feats--even when they do not finish in first place! Why does it always come down to winners and losers?  Why do we feel the need to 'put down' a second, third, or even last place?

Léopard Trek has also managed to bring all nine members of its team safely to Paris.  This too is an accomplishment. This is a team who works as a team. They sacrifice for each other. They support and encourage one another.  I hope when Andy and Fränk step on to the second and third place steps of the podium in Paris tomorrow they will feel a sense of accomplishment.  This is history.  For the first time in the over 100 year history of La Grande Boucle a team will have two of its members on the podium.  The fact that they are brothers, makes this story even more special.

The Wren

Nanny and Tookie

A few days before my sister, Janice, lost her fight with bile duct cancer (very rare) a wren began singing from a tree very near the house. (Hearing a wren's song is apparently a rare occurrence in this part of Calgary.)

I never did see this bird, but its beautiful song greeted us each morning and I joked with Janice that it was singing just for her.  Janice smiled and said, "I know." On the Thursday Janice took her last breaths on this earth, I do not remember hearing the wren, nor have I heard it since. 

I believe the wren was sent to take Janice's soul to Heaven. I will listen more carefully to the early morning birdsong, just in case.

My big sister was an amazingly talented woman, in many different ways, and I miss her more each day.  She was one of my first teachers, but it has been over the past three years that her lesson have been most powerful. Her courage and attitude throughout her illness was humbling.  Not once did her will to survive flag and she was often the one offering words of encouragement and hope to the rest of us. Janice showed me (again and again) how important it is to laugh and create simple memories. She showed us such grace and spirit when faced with insurmountable odds. Her compassion for others was boundless. 

And so, as I move forward (as we all must), I know I am a better person because of her.  Never again will I take a relationship for granted. I will tell the people in my life how valued they are and do everything in my power to make my small corner of the world a better place. I will look for and appreciate the little miracles in each day. I will stop, listen, and smile.