The Suicide Prevention Ride for Headquarters Counseling Center

#214 plus a few extra shots!!  Sunday August 21st, 2011

This is Gary on his unnamed but excellent bike, Julie on Lola and my empty bike Mojo!  I have decided to shamelessly copy Julie by naming my bike after lo these many years.  It is such a great idea!!  My Mojo kicks butt!!

Well anyway, I had a great time riding to raise money for Headquarters Counseling Center.  I have often referred students to the twenty four hour free service provided by the dedicated and wonderful people at Headquarters who post this on their site …

National Hopeline Network
1.800.SUICIDE
National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline
1.800.273.TALK

From Douglas County, KS
call 841.2345

Please take note of this number.  Read the excellent information available on their site and believe that Suicide Prevention is EVERYONE’S Responsibility and that YOU CAN make a difference!! 

I had an exceptional time because it was not only for an excellent cause but because I was joined by two of my favorite friends!  One who I see and enjoy regularly and one who I rarely see but love just the same!!  It was wonderful to spend the day with Julie  as always and excellent to reconnect with Gary at a time that was long overdue.

We helped Headquarters raise $5000.  Pretty awesome! 

Both Julie and Gary are former students who have grown into friends. They were enjoyable and entertaining as students.  I love and care about them both very much.  They are each special to me in their own way so I was pretty happy that they were able to meet and that they found some things (other than riding and laughing at me) in common!  The good thing about a poker run is that they allow a lot of time for socializing since there are five stops.  The bad thing is that all those stops overshadow riding and you don’t cover many miles which is what we like to do.  HOWEVER, in this instance it was perfect as it gave us a chance to catch up. 

Gary rode in memory of his cousin and best friend who died of suicide last year.  It is hard to handle death regardless but particularly hard to handle suicide.  Each of the three of us has been touched by suicide during our lives.  In Kansas, one person dies from suicide each day.  Seems like many people are touched by suicide.  I wish that this wasn’t so…  

Anyway, I really enjoyed the time with these two.  It is amazing to me that we can just pick up our connection even when we don’t see each other too often.  That is the sign of true caring and friendship.  I feel so privileged to have been and to continue in the lives of each Gary and Julie.  I would never  have predicted that taking a job at a small alternative high school would lead to life time friendships with anyone other than co-workers.  Yet, here are two examples of life time friendships with special (haha, not like that – well, not much anyway!) people!! 

Hope you have unexpectedly special people in your life!  Look closely and open your heart to surprise!

~ Denise