Jitters!

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What does it feel like?

Forty years ago this week I graduated from college and received a commission in the US Army Corps of Engineers. 56 of the 58 of us in that class went to Viet Nam. I was one of the two that was sent to West Germany to spend 240 nights a year nestled up in a sleeping bag against the Iron Curtain on the East German border. The feelings I have today are very similar to that first port call for duty overseas.

The picture that comes to mind is that of a 18 year old that just walked out of the US Marine Corps recruiting station toting a freshly used pen and a duffle bag. The recruiter has a smile from ear to ear; he met his quota today. The boy looks back, and life as he knew it has just changed forever, as he mumbles under his breath, "What did I just do to myself?"

This is the time to thank all those friends and family that have spoken words of encouragement to me. Wow! Folks I had not talked to in years are popping up and wishing me well. There was a get together of friends from our Sunday School class last light. Wow! I have never been so encouraged in my life. Thank you, everyone of you. Bless you, every one of you.

In 24 hours I will be on the airplane to San Francisco to meet 24 others with the same item on their bucket list. Until that port call I am a very busy person, and it is all good. Tonight is family night and then the reality will finally hit -- I will do the last of my packing. Yes, there will be those dreams tonight of that recruiter with the "I got another one" smile on his face.

Again, thank you for all the encouragement. Another thank you to those your are donating a penny or more per mile, or some donating dollars per day to their favorite charity unknown to me as a motivation for 'keeping on keeping on'. The knowledge there may be a new Gideon Bible being placed for every mile that I pedal puts a little zip in my cadence and more determination in my (shrinking) belly to 'go get that next mile!'  I am overwhelmed by some folks' generosity and humbled by the shining through of their better angels from within them. I am the richest man in the world having friends like you all.