Many athletes have a professional as their hero: a Lance Armstrong, a Bjorn Daehli, a Bonnie Blair. I have my Aunt Connie. From my earliest days, she has been a sports instigator. She gave me my first tube to swim with in Squam lake and hiked with me up Rattlesnake Mountain and then Mt. Washington. With her, my sister and I got to see Acadia, the Wisconsin Dells, and Noah’s Ark, the world’s largest water park. Connie was the one who first equipped me with cross country skis and skied with me around the golf course at Quechee. When I decided to join the cross country ski team in high school, she sent me poles, wax and an awesome homemade waxing video, and let’s not forget the sweet 80’s spandex suit. We skied the Birkie together for the first time in ’99 and that was an epic trip. Without her inspiration, I never would have become a cross country skier, and I would have missed some many of the adventures I have enjoyed
It goes without saying that my aunt is a phenomenal athlete. Connie retired from teaching high school math a few years ago. For most people, retirement means relaxing into the easy life. For my aunt, it meant a chance to bike and ski the world over. She moved up to Hayward, WI, a fantastic training ground for skiing, biking, kayaking, blading, cat skiing and enjoying the outdoors in general. Now, she trains and races year round. She’s been to Switzerland, Germany, and France, pedaling up big mountains. Alpe de Huez? She’s climbed it. Her roller blade racing team, “The Blady Bunch” is well known on the Midwestern circuit. On snow, she’s been augementing her 25+ year Birkie ski experience by attempting to complete the World Loppet. This year, she’s hitting up the Kesskinada and the Vasaloppet. Yeah, the second one is 90k. Could you ski it?
Happy 60th birthday Aunt Connie! For me you have been an inspiration, a teacher, a hero, and a friend. I look forward to having adventures with you for many years to come.
