The funny thing about “cancer re-calibration” is that it’s a journey, it’s not an on/off switch. Oh, I had a different outlook on life. But the weird thing was that, with a few exceptions, I really didn’t want to talk to anyone about my cancer experience. I just wanted to internalize it and put it behind me. Maybe it’s a guy thing, I don’t know. But it was tucked away in a corner of my persona and it was just best to keep it there.
And then a couple of things happened.
I fell in love with cycling after watching friends of mine get passionate about riding. Early morning rides, smelling fresh cut hay, seeing parts of Lakeville I didn’t even know existed, those were the things that my bike introduced me to. And I loved every aspect of being on my bike. And I wanted more. I wanted to do a really long ride. I heard about the Pan-Mass Challenge, and quickly dismissed that idea and the associated fundraising. No way was I going to ask people for money.
And then one morning, I caught Lance Armstrong on a TV interview talking about his Lance Armstrong Foundation and what motivated him to start it, even in the midst of his crazy training regime. Lance obviously had survived the same cancer I had, so I was listening closely. He looked into the camera, and I swear to this day he was talking directly to me. And here’s what he said: “If you’ve had cancer, and you survived, you owe it to the people who didn’t make it to carry the torch and do something, anything, to wipe out this hideous disease. It’s called ‘The Responsibility of the Cured’ “.
Boom.
I couldn’t breathe for a second.
I stood there, trying to process what I heard and what I was feeling. And then I put my finger on it.
I was embarrassed.
This year is a celebration for me, my 20th consecutive PMC. I’ll be part of a small family group called Team Attache’ so give us a thumbs up when you see us. I’ve promised our new riders I am buying all their beer at Mass Maritime, so they are pretty impressed. I can’t wait to see their reaction to the ride, because I vividly remember mine like it was yesterday.
By the way. Cancer can s*ck it. See you on the road!