proud

My husband has been a dirt biker, since he competed in his first enduro when he was 16. He left the sport once he hit college.

When other men approach mid-life, they find a young girlfriend, or maybe a shiny red sports car. My husband? He bought a dirt bike. And started competing again.

Fast forward to yesterday, when his 11 year old son followed in his footsteps, and competed in his first enduro.

The setting: Huntersville, MN. A tiny spot in northern Minnesota, that consists mainly of a horse field and a bar. Charlie's event was held in the pine filled forests, a narrow trail through the woods.

Everyone turned out to support him, my parents and sister Heather, and Mike's parents and brother Bob. What a cheering section! We are so grateful to all of them for making the trip.

He was so nervous (and rightly so). As was mom, but we don't have a photo of that...Dirt biking is one of the most physically demanding sports there is. Here he is, at the start, waiting for the signal to head out. Can you imagine what is going through his head right now?And he's off!It is dry up there, too. Thank goodness for goggles.An enduro really isn't a spectator sport, but we trudged through the forest and found a spot on the trail where we could see him race by:

Other than that, you really can't see him during the race, so you just stand, and wait, and hope he shows up for his next lap. Of course a mother imagines him out in the woods, hurt and needing help. But then you hear the sound of a four stroke, and you strain to see yellow, and there he comes!

He had such a look of determination on his face. One hour and 8 miles later, he came through the checkpoint. All in one piece. That's me, just making sure.The proud cheering section:

And there's my sweet little boy, who clearly is a little boy no longer. Mike and I are just bursting. As Mike said last night, on the long drive home "That was the best day of my life."Even though I have no photos-Mike was a competitor this weekend too! His race was on Sunday, far longer and more grueling than the kid's event. But he did very well, in fact, he felt he rode the best race of his career so far! And came home smiling, happy, with a trophy, and most importantly, uninjured.

(GIANT SIGH OF RELIEF FROM WIFE AND MOM).