I never thought of River’s name like that, but after reading what you wrote it makes me realize that it was the perfect name for him and will always remind me of the moments surrounding his birth.

You’re a good man, Joel.  Great to have you a part of all this.

You are speaking of change and how it affects our lives.  I think French Poet Anatoe France said it best, “All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.  You had an image of your life and, for the most part, that image was accurate.  The unexpected change shook you, probably because you felt like you’ve lost some control.  I think that is common for most people and why some shy away while the strong willed learn to embrace.  No doubt your commitment to cycling has given you the discipline to deal with whatever life throws at you.  The fact you chose River, to me the perfect symbol for change, as a name is testament to your resolve and willingness to embrace change.   I resisted change most of my life not understanding that’s how we grow, not recognizing that life was more than just walking a straight line.  Like a river, the journey through life is a constant changing ebb and flow, you can either learn to live with it and enjoy all the fertility it brings or drown trying to resist.

Thank you for sharing this Darryl, I will never be able to really show you how much I appreciate what your doing and how it helps me to cast aside my demons and continue to strive to be the best I can.