This year brought a number of major
changes to my life – one negative, some positive. This is how it
went down:
January: Lucas' last month at
OBI, as his year-long work contract ran out the end of the month.
Norbert and I flew to the US the end of the month, spending a few
nights at the Outer Banks before heading to Mom's.
February:
A good visit with Mom, but I was shocked at how tiny and fragile she
was. She said repeatedly what a good visit we had, and when we left,
I told Norbert that I thought she felt it was the last time we would
see each other.
The
good news of the month was that Lucas was accepted in the
job-training programme at OBI, starting August 1.
Norbert
and I celebrated our 22nd
anniversary. The weather was awful all winter, lots of snow.
March:
The nasty weather continue all month, and we even saw snowflakes on
Easter Sunday, March 31.
OBI
decided that since Lucas would be back with them as of the summer, he
may as well join them now, and hired him back on a part-time basis as
of the first of the month.
This
month had my cycling highlight, as Gerald Ciolek won Milan-SanRemo in
a major upset, and helped put his team MTN-Qhubeka on the map.
Incidentally, that race was shortened by snow, which was to become a
common theme this spring.
On
the evening of Saturday, March 30, we received a phone call from the
US that mom had been taken to the hosptial with an apparent heart
attack. Fortunately my brother was visiting her at the time.
Later
that evening we got word that she had not survived. It was, on the
one hand, sudden and unexpected, and on the other hand – not. She
had been noticeably deteriortaing physically the last year or so. We
all cried and realized how blessed we were to have had her in our
lives.
April:
I flew over to the US and Norbert and Lucas flew a few days later. We
shared some beautiful moments and memories with family and friends at
Mom's funeral, before turning ourselves to the work of closing up her
house.
I
basically missed the entire Spring Classics this year. I believe a
did about an hour live report for the Tour of Flanders, which was the
day after Mom died, but I have still no idea who won. I also watched
Paris-Roubaix, but saw none of the others.
We
flew back from the US on Friday, April 12, and exactly one week
later, Norbert and I flew back to the US for our planned vacation. We
were both exhausted, physically and emotionally, and wished our plans
had been different.
That
vacation turned out to be a huge success. We flew to Jacksonville,
Florida, and drove up to the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia for two
days. We absolutely loved it – so beautiful and mysterious and
different. It turned out to be the perfect distraction and soothing
to our souls.
After
a few days at the beach in Florida – including one afternoon laying
in the sun! -- we flew up to Norfolk, The original plan had been to
spend a week with Mom, and we changed it to a few days at the Outer
Banks and a few days meeting my brother at Mom's house to finalize
things.
May:
Got home on May 3, just in time for the Giro d'Italia, which started
on May 4. Yes, I planned it that way.
The
end of the month Norbert and I drove to Bavaria, and spent a lovely
weekend with our cousins Anja, Wolfgang and Lisa. So wonderful to get
to know them and add them to our life!
This
month I made a decision I had been thinking about for a year: I
decided to retire from Cyclingnews. Although only a part-time job, it
took up very much of my time, life and energy. I decided I wanted to
use those assets in other ways in the future: spending more time with
my family, traveling, hobbies – in other words, enjoying myself in
the years I have left.
June:
This month saw Lucas take his first solo vacation. He flew to DC and
stayed with my brother for about 10 days. I understand a good time
was had by all.
July:
The Tour of France, of course, which is rather all-consuming. But my
last one!
Lucas
turned 20 – I don't have a teenager anymore!
Started
the month out in a great way: Norbert and I saw Bruce Springsteen in
concert. Absolutely wonderful! But odd to see all these old people
grooving in the audience.........
August:
Lucas started his job-training at OBI. It will be for two to three
years, and he will get expereience in every department. This should
set him up for a career.
Anja,
Wolfgang and Lisa took revenge for our visit, by coming to us for a
weekend. We enjoyed celebrating Anja's birthday!
The
break between the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana seems to be
shorter every year, and I plunged into my last Grand Tour.
We
were so thrilled by our Springsteen experience, that we went to
another concert. This time it was Joe Cocker, and it too was great
and much fun.
September:
The
highlight of this month was of course the tenth: my 60th
birthday! It still seems awfully old to me – but a great age to
stop working quite so much! We took the family out to dinner that
evening, and then had a big party with neighbors, friends and
extended family on the following weekend.
I
also made the public announcement that I was leaving Cyclingnews.
After
much thought I decided what I wanted for a birthday present, a new
sewing machine. I got a really super new one with every convenience.
I must say, the technology has sure changed a lot over the years, and
a good machine is so different from the cheap ones I had always had
before. I love having the opportunity to sew clothes and things
again!
October:
I had planned to stop at Cyclingnews after the World Championships in
September, but at a colleague's request, I stayed on through the Tour
of Lombardy on October 6. Thank you once again to Dan Benson for
letting me do the last hour or so of the live report as a goodbye.
And thank you to everyone associated with the website, and all those
who read it!
Norbert
and I had stayed home long enough, so we jumped on an airplane and
flew to London. We met my brother Bill there and had a great, if
tiring, time sightseeing. It was also good to be with Bill on what
would have been our mom's 85th
birthday. Wouldn't she have loved to be there with us!
November:
I was lucky enough to almost immediately find a new part-time job
(hopefully only part-time!) and something I had always wanted to do.
Stephan Flock, with whom I worked on and off for several years, and I
will do the press work for the Synergy Baku Cycling Project, a
cycling team based in Azerbaijan.
The
middle of the month Norbert and I took off to the North Sea in the
Netherlands. The weather was not terribly co-operative, but we got in
lots of long walks and good fresh air, and mainly enjoyed the
opportunity to just get away from real life for a few days.
The
end of the month I did something I had sworn I would never do: I
opened a twitter account.
December:
I had been afraid that when I stopped working for Cyclingnews I would
end up sitting at home with nothing to do and dying of boredom, so I
made long list of things to do. So far I have had time for none of
them!
Having
been to the UK in October and the Netherlands in November, I extended
the streak by going to Spain in December, attending the Baku training
camp for a few days. A very interesting experience, and I think I am
going to like this job!
Strange
not to call Mom on Christmas, but we had lots of loving memories of
her.
What's coming up?
For 2014 I hope for, of course, good health and much happiness for
all of us. For myself, I hope the new work goes well and proves not
to be too time-consuming. I want to have lots of time to devote to my
sewing, baking and cooking, as well as time for family and cat!
We
have three vacations planned already for the year, with a fourth in
the works. Yes, all involve the US........
Summary:
Mom's death was not only the biggest moment of the year, but a
turning point in my life. It helped me make my decision to leave my
job, to use my time doing what I want to do.
Interestingly
enough, a number of friends also lost their moms this year. Being
able to share that experience with them was important and helpful –
if only to know that this is a part of life and something we must all
go through.
All
in all though, things are positive. I now have more time and less
stress, and am eager to use that to continue to enjoy my life.
Wishing
everyone all the best in the coming year!
