I am not religious, but I obviously had to dig in a bit when I saw that today is known as "Cheesefare Sunday" in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It's a Lenten thing about being allowed to eat cheese today, before dietary restrictions go into effect. I learned that these folks also refer to today as Maslenitsa Sunday. It is a day of forgiveness, fasting (despite the cheese, apparently), and the gathering of treasures in heaven.
I was thinking that if there is a heaven and treasures are being gathered there, my sister-in-law's mom - Jacky - who passed away on Friday, is one such treasure. Jacky's untimely departure due to cancer belongs on a list of Truly Unfair Things. She was young, vibrant, loving, smart, and really witty.
Several years ago, she got a road bike. We exchanged emails about it at the time, because she was considering joining me on the MS150 bike ride. A short time later, she posted this on Facebook.
It still makes me laugh today. She didn't know that you can buy padded undies for cycling. She ended up not using these cut-up shorts because they didn't stay in place. But this approach is how I think of Jacky - just diving in, with both feet. I will miss this.
The last time I saw Jacky, she commented on the fact that she never ended up riding the MS150. She'll be with me in spirit as I ride this June.