Vintage Wine

If you open my wine cabinet, you will find many different bottles.  Some from different wineries,  some with funny names and pictures, others that were gifts from a wedding or two.  Some have been there for years and other only a few days, and even more that I have honestly no idea how they got on that shelf.  But no matter where my bottles came from or how long they have been there, they all fit perfectly together on that shelf.

I took this week off and came back to Mason City to stay for a few days before I heading up to Minnesota.  Of course I brought a bike with – this time Tessa made the drive.  I think she liked this trip better than the last one, when we drove through a freak May blizzard, and she was covered in snow the entire time.  

But this time, we were welcomed with sunshine and some cooler summer temps.  We were also greeted by Bob and Teri, who were letting me crash at their home yet again.  I have known Bob and Teri since I first worked at the American Cancer Society (ACS) as an intern in 2007.  Teri also worked for ACS, and we became quick friends and stayed in touch even after I left for Anchorage.  When I was making plans to move back to Iowa in 2009, it was Bob who called and offered to have me move into the rental he owned in Clear Lake.  From then on Bob was lovely called my Slumlord and I his Slumlady.  Needless to say, Bob and Teri have been and continue to be great friends of mine, and I love being able to visit and stay with them when I am in town. 

Shortly after I arrived, I made a trip over to my favorite bike shop, Wayne’s Ski and Cycle, to have a tire tube changed and to chat with some of my favorite bike boys.  As soon as I walked in I was greeted with a smile from the guys and a “hey, how have you been.”  Even though they were pretty busy, Max was able to get my bike up and changed out, and we also took time to catch up with everything going on with everyone at the shop and with my life in Dubuque. 

I first went to Wayne’s when I had moved to Clear Lake and I have never stopped.  They not only do a great job fixing bikes, but they never talked down to me or make me feel like I didn’t know what I was doing (even though I truly did not know what I was doing).  They always treated me with respect and taught me how to turn my riding into a passion while still having a fun time and also that I should probably clean my bike more – like it was important or something.  But there was one thing that they did that drove me nuts – they always insisted on hugging me when I would come in, and I know the fact that I was a not a big hugger at the time only encouraged their bear like squeezes.  But I learned to embrace the hugs that smelled of coffee and bike grease, and  I had almost forgotten how much I had loved coming to the shop and just hanging out with the boys, they always had stories to tell as they would crank on the bikes.   

The sunshine filled view heading towards Nora Springs

After Max was done with the tire, Tessa was ready to roll again and I was out the back door and off on my way.  I got my first ride in on Monday morning as I rode out to Nora Springs and had an amazing view to follow the entire way.  There had been a few cars on the road, but mostly I have the ride to myself to enjoy.  As I climbed up and into a set of rolling hills, I was able to view the fields filled with a light fog and the day’s first hour of sunshine.  When I rolled back to Bob and Teri’s, I was greeted by some freshly baked Monkey Bread and questions about my early morning ride.

  Shortly after my ride, I got showered and changed so I could head out and meet up with my friends, Julie, Megan and Rachel, at Cancun, one of our favorite spots in town.  I stopped by my old house and picked up Julie.  Julie and I had been roommates for the last two years that I lived in Mason City and I miss being able to talk with her every day.  We had met through Relay For Life and became fast friends who somehow figured out how to be roommates and not kill each other in their sleep.  She has always served as my confidant and sounding board along with being able ring all of my crazy ideas into one pile while smiling and laughing at my stories.  

After grabbing Julie, we headed to Cancun to meet up with Rachel and Megan.  We had all met when we lived in Mason City and after Rachel moved to Waterloo and I to Dubuque, we have stayed closed with many visits to eachother's cities.  Again we caught up on life updates and Rachel gave us our pottery that we had painted in Cedar Falls when we were there for her birthday.  Megan gave us the update on the latest wedding plans and decisions for the upcoming marriage of her and her fiancé, Reagan.  

I met Megan through Julie and have enjoyed countless days and late nights hanging out with her.  Megan has the ability to teach me how to relax and let go when all I wanted to do is sit up straight and worry.  She had recently gotten engaged at a Cubs game to Reagan, who ironically is Bob’s son.  As we talked more about the wedding and plans, the food arrived and Rachel talked more about Waterloo and her life there.  

I met Rachel through two different avenues – work and mutual friends.  She is a great person to have in your corner and to share many laughs with.  We have bonded even more after our moves and she is one of my favorite pit-stops when I am traveling through Cedar Falls/Waterloo.  After lunch, Megan, Julie, and I made plans for the afternoon and evening to spend more time together in Clear Lake while Rachel needed to get back on the road home.

Tessa enjoying the view of Clear Lake

After all of the catching up from the prior day, I got back on my bike this morning and made my way over to Clear Lake for an easy out and back ride.  I was looking forward to this ride because it was one I knew very well and was very flat which made it easy to lose myself in. 

As my mind drifted and my tires turned, I thought about all of the friends in my life, especially the ones here in North Iowa.  I thought about the friends that have been there for what seemed like forever, the ones that are constant and true, and the ones that pushed me even when they knew it would made me uncomfortable.  They were all different, but they were mine.  The ways we met, the things we had in common and the way they make we feel when I am around them.   

 Much like the wine bottles in my cabinet, my friends all have a story of how they got there and why they fill my life with so much joy.  Is it odd then that all of my friends like wine?  I think it works out perfectly because as they say – Like wine, friends only get better with age.