My Life in a Suitcase

First off, a big thank you to all of my friends and family who reached out from near and far to send me good wishes on my birthday yesterday!! It is always so nice to hear from old friends and receive phone calls from family all across the country, yay technology. 

I should probably write a post about how much older and wiser I am, but I really don't feel like I have that creative liberty at the moment considering that I literally ran into a door this morning. I had sunglasses on...it was dark...and that's all I'll say about that!

Birthdays are funny to me. I don't particularly enjoy the attention (especially when your team makes an entire gym full of school kids sing Happy Birthday to you), but I do love how birthdays bring everyone together. Our team took me out to a brewery in downtown Silver City and we all enjoyed a few beers and burgers. I feel so thankful to be a part of a team that is willing to let loose a bit and just enjoy each other's company. 

Birthday beer, PROST!

Yesterday I reflected on where this past year has taken me. Last year I spent my birthday racing in Luxembourg. I sure never thought that when I turned 26 I would be in Silver City, NM. Cycling is not always the easiest or most glamorous lifestyle. Heck, I have been living out of my suitcase for the better part of 3 months now and it feels like the season has just begun! We go from house to house and city to city, unpacking and repacking every few days.

However, despite the gypsy-like lifestyle, we have the pleasure of meeting some incredible people who host us at every stop. They are kind enough to let us invade their house, wreak havoc, and then leave just as quickly as the whirlwind we arrived in. Just kidding, we try not to leave any trails of destruction! The most amazing part is having the opportunity to befriend people all across the country, from Arkansas to California, each with their own story to tell. Every one of our hosts this year has been so welcoming and they have made being on the road feel as close to home as possible. 

​Cheers to another great year ahead and thank you again to all of our wonderful surrogate families along the road! 

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