Another story? Oh, goodie!! I love stories.


Did I ever tell you how I got my dog?
First, I'll tell you about Roxie, our family dog. She was maybe 3 1/2 when we adopted her from PAWS in Montclair. She was a run-away Border Collie, found on the street. Nobody came looking for her. Her previous owner must not have wanted her back and we found out why.

Roxie was no prize possession in the beginning. She loved to run and each time she got an inch she bolted out the door. She loved to be chased but chasing her wore thin quickly. She was also aggressive. Once while walking her down the street, she lunged towards dogs locked behind a fence, entangling my fingers in the leash and snapping three of them back. I swore she broke the tips of two. I yanked her back and she came snarling and snapping at me. Bad move. I grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and shoved her down on her side in the middle of the street. As my fingers floated between throbbing and numb, my other hand clenched her fur and twisted it and pressed into her throat. Spitting venom through my teeth, I told her I would kill her if she ever did anything like that again. I think she knew I was dead serious.

I had some thinking to do. I didn't really want to give up on her but we expected a baby within a month and had a 4 1/2 yr old at home. Did I want to chance it with an unpredictable dog? NO WAY!! I called PAWS to discuss returning her. The staff fully understood my problem and would take her back but asked if I would keep her a little longer since they were dealing with an outbreak of Parvo. I agreed, as sending her back could be a death sentence.

Roxie knew she was three paws out the door and seriously changed her ways. She became a devoted, loving, smart, active friend and family member that we all adored until she died in my arms of congestive heart failure at the young age of 13. Losing her simply ripped our hearts out.

SO what does that have to do with biking? Everything.

The Saturday before Thanksgiving, I went for our usual shop ride. It was so cold that only five of us were stupid enough to be out there. I think it was 13 degrees before the wind chill factor was added in. Why do you go out on such a day? To get some exercise is the excuse, but it's really just to hang out with some soul mates for a while.

We started out and hoped to warm up. At mile 5 the first guy broke off and headed back to get ready for work. It wasn't any warmer. At mile ten, I told the guys not to wait for me on the hill. I was so cold, I was heading back at the split. The ride back was brutal. Scary even. My heart rate was ridiculously low and I felt like I was fighting hypothermia. I fought to keep going, to keep my blood moving but it felt like I was trying to pedal through freshly poured concrete. Finally back at the shop, I decided to wait for the rest of the guys to see that they were OK. I sat in the car for all of five minutes when I couldn't stand it anymore and went into the only open store in the lot.

I stood looking out the glass storefront of the pet feed store, waiting for the guys and slowly thawing out. One of the ladies looked me up and down. Thin tights, a lightweight jacket, light gloves and covers over my shoes. She asked, "What kind of shoes are they?". I looked ridiculous. I told her I was waiting for friends and talked a bit about our ride that morning. She asked if I had been in that store before. I told her I used to buy my food there for my dog that had died 5 weeks ago. She asked what kind of dog and I told her, a Border Collie. Then she looked pointedly at me and said, "You may be here for more than warming your feet." She turned then walked behind the counter and pulled a paper off the wall. "This woman came in the night before last. They need a home for this Border Collie puppy. I think this dog is meant for you."

I wasn't over Roxie. The wound from losing her was still fresh and burning, but this photo... I said to myself, "This is not the right time, but I think this might be the right dog. There was something about the photo that said he was perfect.

I called the number and fought back tears as I told the woman we were interested in the dog. Their family met mine and decided we were the right family for the puppy and we brought him home the day before Thanksgiving.

We kept his name, Eli, and he has been the greatest gift to our family. The easiest pup, the smartest dog. Great with every one in our family. It really was meant to be. And it happened because I rode my bike on a way too cold day... If it can make that much of an impact on my family, imagine what riding might do for you!