|
This is Glenn with comments from the other side of the fence.
I am known as “The Tool”. On the U.S. Paralympic Team there are three “tools”, all tandem pilots: Eric, Katie and Glenn. Glenn is definitely the rustiest of the three “tools”. There is something you need to know about the Paralympics. The tool cannot operate without the vision impaired. So, in a way its like a marriage. I am here because of Jason. Jason is here because of me. This is a good thing as Jason and I get along well together...but at times like any married couple we do have our moments.
Camp seems to be a lot of the same things over and over . We train, we eat and we sleep. And for this rusty “Tool”, I sleep more here than I do away from here for an entire year.
Another thing about Jason and I ...Jason needs me on the tandem, but I think I might need him more than he needs me. I question everything. I am always on the edge of “getting in trouble” so it is always good to have someone with a lawyer’s letterhead to help cover my butt...which we have already used....successfully I might add!
One of the other jobs of”The Tool” is to ensure that the entire U.S. Paralympic Cycling Team is outfitted in camo. For those back home (in the Northesstern woods of Washington and Oregon) you would see that I have been successful in outfitting the team in ful camo. My next goal is to make sure everyone is a “hunter” by the end of camp! That may be difficult to outift the team with a bow, high powered rife or musket given that we have several “tree huggers” on the team. But, they are all proudly displaying their stars and stripes of camouflage!
Camp for me is a lot of fun. There is a lot of joking, clowning around and just a fun group of people to be a part of. Like Ron's "How ya'll doin?" greeting (guess that what happens when you are from Alabama!). Sometimes I double as a “big brother” to Barb, a “mechanic” to Steve, and yes I am also a “waiter” for several team members...coffee is served at 6:30 a.m.!
A note on the brighter side...it must be a funny sight at 6:30 every morning to see “The Tool” walking down the dorm hall in his tiny, small underwear with coffee pot in hand and the aroma of Seattle coffee drifting down the hall. And yes, there are people standing in the hall and their doorways with coffee cups outstretched as if begging...wearing not much more than I am. A sight to see (there is no dress code in the AM at camp!).
So for now...this is it from “The Tool” as I must go get my massage! “Gotta go”.
- Glenn
| 
