Another Day Older and Deeper in Debt
February 18, 2010 on 2:11 pm | In Mountain Biking | 15 CommentsYes, my brother, Dave, turns 56 today. For a guy who’s almost as old as Lipton, the old geezer still gets around pretty good.
Leave your birthday wishes at the bottom of this post.
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that Dave was a problem child in the early days. Mom broke more than one wooden spoon on him – and he deserved every bit of punishment he received.
If you haven’t had a chance to read South of Seattle, you may not know that Dave tried to burn down our neighborhood when he was about nine. After failing as a pyromaniac, he decided that a career in health care would be a better fit.
Another little known fact – Dave used to be a Republican! You’ll have to ask him about that one.
And one more – Dave has been the Board of Directors’ unanimous choice to chair the prestigious Tour de Gulch Porta Potty Committee for nearly ten years. All that experience in a leadership position at the hospital has direct application.
Dave and I share a love for biking and beer, but we have our differences. While I am flexible and reserved, Dave is stubborn and has problems with volatility.
I’d been riding for three or four years when I got Dave involved in mountain biking. Just about the time I had him convinced that it was safe to come to Growlers, I tatered myself in a big wreck that resulted in a broken collarbone, three broken ribs, and a blown lung. Fortunately, Dave was dumb enough to sign on anyway.
We’ve been on some great rides together and I look forward to many more. Happy birthday, Dave.
Green River Trail, 2005
St. Helens Lake - Boundary Trail, 2006
Ape Canyon - Smith Creek, 2007
Tour de Gulch, 2008
Dave doesn't always listen well - Ride 'em All, 2009
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Happy Birthday young man….
Comment by Paul — February 18, 2010 #
Happy Birthday Dave! Enjoy.
Comment by Mel — February 18, 2010 #
Happy Birthday Dave, You look and ride like you are not a day over 25!!
Comment by Jack — February 18, 2010 #
I was hoping for some pictures of a younger Dave, but I realize that camera’s had yet to be created.
Only one beer tonight young man, or you’ll be up peeing all night.
Vern
Comment by Vern — February 18, 2010 #
Happy Birthday Dave!
Comment by Dara — February 18, 2010 #
Breaking the wooden spoon?! Pyromanic??! REPUBLICAN??!! You’ve come a long way Uncle D.
Happy Birthday.
Comment by Michael — February 18, 2010 #
Happy Birthday to a one in a million son-in-law!!!
Comment by Donna — February 18, 2010 #
Happy Birthday Dave!
A birthday beer for you sometime soon!
For now, I have a thought to share with you and all others that can appreciate it!
“When I go biking, I repeat a mantra of the day’s sensations: bright sun, blue sky, warm breeze, blue jay’s call, ice melting and so on. This helps me transcend the traffic, ignore the clamorings of work, leave all the mind theaters behind and focus on nature instead. I still must abide by the rules of the road, of biking, of gravity. But I am mentally far away from civilization. The world is breaking someone else’s heart.” ~Diane Ackerman (poet, naturalist)
Comment by Ryan M. — February 18, 2010 #
Happy Birtday Dave, foggier all the time. Fast Old Guys!
Oh by the way Laurie looked at me and thought it meant fat old guy. Rob
Comment by Rob — February 18, 2010 #
Happy Birthday Dave. You are a couple of years older than when Ed and I started riding. You have lots of biking years ahead. Enjoy, they go fast.
Comment by Vaughn — February 19, 2010 #
Happy Birthday Dave,
Yeah – you’re nearly as old as me, but you will always have that LeMonds genetic advantage, not to mention explosive power, and incredible balance. It’s just not fair.
Always great riding with you. Have a Happy Birthday.
Jeff
Comment by Jeff L — February 19, 2010 #
I know your secret for riding soooo gooood at your very old age – you always ride hard, have lots of energy – I’ve seen you sleeping numerous times at your desk at work – storing up extra energy for the rides !!! Happy Birthday – the Beetman – Mike
Comment by mike, the Beetman, Patterson — February 20, 2010 #
Have a great b-day. I really admire the way you and your friends tackle those mountains. Lare…..
Comment by Larry Downing — February 20, 2010 #
The true definition of danger? A creative writer/brother with some time on his hands and a computer.
Thanks for all the b-day wishes. All of you keep me going…either through constant verbal abuse or kicking my ass on the trails. I also have a great supporter in my brother who keeps challenges lined out for me. And Vaughn, you are a truly an amazing rider and give me hope to ride for many more years.
My political leanings are a bit of a winding path to follow. Don’t get me started…
Bike on!
Comment by dave — February 20, 2010 #
better late than never…Happy Birthday Dave! Always fun riding with you.
Comment by Crumpster — February 22, 2010 #