Good Evening.
It's about 10:45pm as I sit down to write this final reflection. In less than 8 hours I will be on my bicycle making my way across California to LA. After almost a year of fundraising and training, the time has come to prove to myself and to the world that GOOD still exists. To me, this ride isn't about finding a cure for HIV, it's not so much about the education - though I do think that's very important - and I really don't have any close connection to anyone who has suffered or is suffering from this plague.
I have to confess, I'm doing this ride for me. Not only for the personal challenge and as a post-graduation release, but for the people. These people are the most caring and thoughtful people around. The world NEEDS these people. These people are the ones that bring smiles to our faces. They make us laugh. They are the shoulders we cry on. They are our mentors, lovers, coworkers, angels, and comfort. I am so honored to be able to spend an entire week with people, who like me, want nothing more than GOOD in this world. Between all the suffering and chaos that our lives are entangled with, it's nice to know that there's this one week, this ONE week, that I have been waiting to embark on, that will hopefully change my heart to become a permanently good heart.
I'm nervous. This ride has got me into a ball of nerves. I'm nervous about my physical strength and my mental strength. Will I be strong enough for this pilgrimage? I ask you all to keep me in your thoughts and prayers this week as I make my journey of 585 miles. Tell everyone you know what I am doing this week in hopes that this GOODness will be what infects us all.
Thank you for all so very much for your donations. I made it! $2553.00!!! Without your donations and your encouraging words and packages of hydration mixtures and bicycle shop gift certificates, a bike saddle, and hugs and thoughts, I would not be able to make this journey. Now for the hard part, the ride.
If you want to send me a message as I'm on the ride, do so here: http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/2006/support/
You can also check the progress of the ride here: http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/
You can even subscribe to the Ride's Podcast here: http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/2006/podcast/
Also, check my website for updates. http://www.creativelyimpulsive.com you can also subscribe through itunes by doing a podcast search for Creatively Impulsive.
Much Love,
Dessireé
P.S. If you're going to be in the LA area on June 10th, be sure to come on down and cheer me in! More information here:
http://www.aidslifecycle.org/ceremonies.html.
# posted by Dez @ 4:11 AM
