The first girl you cared for.

Found another memory while cataloging pictures...

We just spent this past Sunday hanging out with J on the lake. You two have become great friends and are a joy to watch. Then I find this among my photo cd's...

This picture was taken in second grade, at the school skating lessons offered by the Otsego County Sportsplex. There are other, posed pics but this one...is sweet.

A memorable day skiing with the Good's

March 5, 2011

One of our best ski days was spent with the Good family. Paul spent the day with brand new skier Elizabeth and I followed G and Alex around as they snowboarded the terrain park. The weather and conditions were perfect--with the bluest sky ever. And getting to ski with his enduro buddy? Absolutely the best. You were in heaven G.

                                                                               

On the race gate. Go figure.

And this guy was the coach for New Zealand's Olympic Snowboarding Team. His autograph to G? "Jump off of everything!"

We had so much this day that G opted to skip his boarding lesson at Treetops the next morning and ski again with the Good's at Otsego Club. He and Alex did the half pipe and more.

G also had a mishap this day. I was skiing behind him, through a wooded path when his board caught an edge and launched him into the wooded ravine. I raced to the spot, looked down and found him sprawled face up in this bramble. Unhurt. Took me and two other adults to climb down and hoist him back up to the snowpack.

First Great Lakes Grand Prix

October 9, 2009

The Great Lakes Grand Prix premiered at the Otsego Club in October, 2009. G raced the mini-track and finished in 2nd place.

They all look so...little here. Jacob, G, Cam, Josh & Ty.

The mini-track is here next to Lift 1 and that is the half-pipe emblazoned with Big Wheel Bomb.

And here again, our enduro friends joined us. Alex raced on the big course Sunday.

As always, G's uncles Curt and Brad participated.

G & Smokey

Keep finding these moments as I catalog old pictures...gives me a new appreciation for all that Smokey meant to G.

MPX with Enduro friends

August 2, 2009

The next time G returned to MPX, his friend Alex joined us. We first met Alex and his family riding enduros. Looking at these pictures now, I'm reminded of how long and rich our friendship is--we-ve shared many, many good times.

I'm also reminded of G's bond with Smokey. Making his loss at the time of this posting all the more poignant.

G's second motocross race...and so on.

July 18, 2009

He had so much fun we returned to MPX two weeks later. This time he had uncles onhand to witness his fun and his success.

Here, John C., Curt Z. and John K. share his grins.

G's First Motocross Race

Ok, now I'm cataloging photo CDs. And as I review each folder of pics, the memories are playing like an internal dialogue...or journal entry. ;-)

July 4, 2009

G's first motocross race was at MPX in Sebawaing, MI. He was 6 years old and riding a KTM 50 and a Honda 70. He practiced Saturday and raced Sunday. At practice, his Uncle Brad spent some time tutoring him on form and strategy.

We all returned to the cottage in Caseville for the night and only Paul, G and I returned to the track for racing on Sunday. We set up at the end of the mini-track and stressed just a bit over keeping track of the race order and ensuring that G did not miss his motos.

Two things stand out in my memory of this afternoon. One, between motos, G lost a tooth. Just reached into his mouth, pulled it out and held it up for inspection. Mopped up the blood with a paper towel and went back out for his next moto. Now if you know G, you know that the sight of his own blood sends him into orbit. But not this time. That's why it stands out.

Second, G placed 3rd--a podium finish on this day. He was thrilled and we were ridiculously happy for him. This was one of those instances where I stood in awe of his ability and confidence--bar-to-bar with other riders and absolutely unfazed by it.