Remember the kids from Team Marlene back in 2004? Those special-needs kids that pulled together and created their own charity ride, with some of them borrowing bikes, having never ridden even 5 miles before?

I just got friended on Facebook by one of the girls, who is in high school now. I had especially connected with her, and remember how tumultuous her family situation was. She had been un-athletic, and trying desperately to deal with no dad, mom’s boyfriends, and God knows what else.

She told me, in one of those Facebook emails, that, among other things, she’s on the local mountain-biking team now, riding and racing all the time.

I couldn’t be more proud.