07/14/2024
The French have always been my first love. It was on a Sunday in July, 1985, home sick on the couch in the Summertime. I turned on Channel 2, and this race from France was on - the young American Greg LeMond, trying to dethrone Bernard Hinault, the French legend, “the Badger” to his opponents.
My mom came in from the other room, tea, a piece of toast. I was sitting up now.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” I said to her. The Tour de France on TV is a love song to the beauty of the country, sure there was a race happening - but it was the back drop that I fell in love with - the racers came and went - but every year, now matter who or when, there was always France. So it will end as it began - on a Sunday in July, in the name, and the spirit of liberation. Thank you Santa Fe - for all of your support, all of these years. Keep your eyes peeled for phoenixes rising from ashes - because that’s just what they do.