Three Spills on Pinnacle Hill

My brother knew January 13, 2008 was the perfect autumn day for a trail ride and made sure I was on board. I'm still breaking in my new Fisher (or should I say it's breaking me in?) so we picked moderate terrain that was close to home but still offered a challenge. A few streets over from my house in Rochester is Pinnacle Hill, one in a line of drumlins including Cobbs Hill. Never mock a hill. By definition it seems miniscule; by bike it's arduous. I've lived in Rochester my entire life and I'd never been up to Pinnacle Hill until Sunday. It's not a long ride, but it sure got my heart beating. The view on top was lovely; we could see much of the east side of Greater Rochester. I had to get off my bike, strip a few layers and sit down on the damp sandy clay just to catch my breath. There were a few joggers on the hill and I made a mental note to come back for some decent trail running practice. My bike and I took 3 spills on our way back down to the street and I smiled to myself that this trip, like so many others, would leave me with some bumps and bruises - reminders of how invigorating it is to be alive. I found out later that there was a pistol duel on Pinnacle Hill in 1842. No casualties. I'm not sure how that's possible, but it's interesting nonetheless. Another 12 or 15 miles after the hill and my brother and I had made our way to Mom's house and a home cooked meal.

Here's a photo of the hill in 1916: http://www.vintageviews.org/vv-tl/biographies/pages/sch005.html

New Year's Day at the NHL Winter Classic

Wearing appropriate attire to cheer on our Buffalo Sabres

The perfect spot to tailgate

Who doesn't love northeast winters?

Full house

What a way to kick off the game!

This Greatness

Life begs us to stand tall, breathe the fresh air, grab at the oppportunities rushing past, savor fleeting moments, and see the beauty bursting at its seams. My friend Lisa once said these unforgettable words, "I'm going to be overwhelmed by this greatness." She was, amusingly, referring to a Harry Potter movie we were about to see in IMAX. But the words stuck with me, long after the flying brooms had fallen, as more of a reminder to continually pursue life and create stories. My story certainly doesn't start here, but by recording it in this format I'm taking a step in a different direction - one that will hopefully inspire me to keep on trekking. In 2008, I resolve to write more, to practice the art of language, to believe in the possiblity of authoring a book. I also plan to allow myself to be overwhelmed by this greatness that not only surrounds me every day, but the greatness that is out there for me to discover.