Nancy here.

How the time has flown.

Jeffrey started riding for Human Rights in 2011. In those days, I could bury my head in work and forget for a good part of the day about Jeffrey biking on country roads in small town America with his kangaroo puppet Joey.

It is ironic that Jeffrey’s safety has been more at risk close to home than across the country.  Seven years ago, Jeffrey was stopped on his bike at a traffic light when he was hit by an inattentive driver (texting I’m sure) in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Jeffrey called me at my office at lunchtime to say that he would have trouble getting his bicycle home. I asked why. When pressed for details, Jeffrey confessed that he had been brought by ambulance to a hospital emergency room; he said I didn’t need to rush out there (ridiculous). I put on my sneakers and ran for the subway to meet one of our daughters at the ER. Jeffrey’s left leg was broken in multiple places. After hours of surgery that ended at 1 AM, Jeffrey began his recovery. In 2 months, with a titanium rod in his leg, he was back on a bike. In 5 more months, he was on the 2015 Ride to New England.

Fortunately, Jeffrey had seen the SUV crossing into the wrong lane and coming toward him. He had just enough time to start moving to one side. Inches separated him from a terrible outcome. This is exactly what I’m most worried about.

Covid has meant that Jeffrey and I have been together almost every day for the last two years. 

After 41 years of marriage, we still like it that way.

Without full time work and with Jeffrey on the road for three weeks, the Ride will be particularly stressful for me this year.  More stress means more anxiety.

Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, to feel restless and tense, to have a rapid heartbeat and even to struggle to breathe.

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress.  When prolonged, it is very uncomfortable. I know.

Other factors will bring me more worry than I usually have with these excursions. Jeffrey will be cycling through the Cascade Mountains in Washington State and the Wasatch Mountains in Utah.  Cell phone service is spotty in these remote areas, which will prevent me from locating where Jeffrey and Joey are on a map.

You can help and join me in wishing Jeffrey and Joey bon voyage.

How?

Follow Joey’s and Jeffrey’s blog at rideforhumanrights.org. You can sign up to get an email every time they post.

Post a comment on the blog.

Support Human Rights First, as Jeffrey and I have for more than 39 years.

Support me, by checking in with me by phone or email, until Mr. Jeffrey returns and takes me out for ice cream.