Changing of the season

  It all starts one day with a small itch to see what is new and exciting, immediately followed by a trip to your local bike shop which in my case is The Path.  You park the car and as you open the door you feel the electricity, the excitement of what may be waiting for you just on the other side of that door. You have convinced yourself that this is going to be just another recon mission and nothing is going home with you on that day yet you accidentally left the rack on the back of your vehicle  for some strange reason. You hear your car door lock and take the first step on Mr Toads wild ride and the outcome is different for everyone.  Some like to test ride bikes, I prefer to pull down the exact frame that I have usually already decided that I am going to call my own and carry it around the store while looking at the parts that will eventually comprise the build kit that I promise myself I will slowly accrue as my budget permits.  Finally off to the counter to pay the first installment of the birth of my new toy.  As I walk to the car, frame in-hand  maybe shaking a bit filled with emotions ranging from the excitement about the new page in my book of cycling to remorse for spending the cash that could probably been more responsibly allocated I set off for home to remove decals, and make the final build list of parts that will slowly be purchased to complete the dream.
  The following morning I usually find myself running down to just pick up one additional part because the rest will come slowly, it is usually about 3 hours later I emerge with handfuls of retail therapy that once assembled will allow me to complete my vision and hit the trail, F waiting and buying slowly I need it now... NOW I SAY!!!
  So is my pattern for bringing new passions into my life and it is this birthing process that make me feel a  bit off when one of them goes away  The day the RIP9 left I was sad, however it's replacement had already been in the quiver for a month or so.  Today I start a process of morning the M6, It appears that she is leaving this evening and although having only seen daylight 3 days of the last 365 I feel as though I am losing a big part of me.  Is it odd to feel this way?  Not really after all that has gone into perfecting the build and all the good times that have been had with great friends on this bike and in this discipline of riding.  The important thing to remember is that the friends will still be there, and there are new good times to be had just around the next corner...