Day 36

Day 36: November 3, 2021 (Ft. Walton Beach, FL to Panama City, FL)

Our gulf detour kind of backfired today from a ride standpoint.  There were very few safe places to ride from one hotel to the next.  I rode what I could, then we RV’d it the rest of the way.  The ride was not the focal point of today; it was about the higher purpose of this journey. 

Every place we go, Ron tells everyone that I’m riding my bike across the country to raise money and awareness for child abuse prevention.  He did it this morning with our waitress.  She seemed a bit shocked when she heard this; then walked away.   I’ve had that reaction from some people.  It seems to be too much for some.

The waitress came back and asked a question about the ride.  I answered it.  She shook her head in an acknowledging way, then walked away again.  We did this a few more times; then she said that both of her daughters were sexually molested by her ex-husband.  She had no idea this was going on and she felt horrible that she did not see the signs.  The abuse of her children happened about 20 years ago.  She had tears in her eyes as she told us her story.

The ex-husband received 80 years in prison.  Her oldest daughter testified at her father’s trial.  She was 11.  The police created a wall between the daughter and her father, so she didn’t have to see him.  This daughter is now in her early 30’s and is doing well.  She has a daughter of her own and a good career.

The younger daughter lives in fear that her father will break out jail and get her.  She does not want to have kids.  20 years later, and the abuse still affects them all.

At lunch, Ron told our waitress about the ride.  She works for EMS and deals with kids that have been abused.  As she came and went from our table, she shared a little bit more each time.  By the end of our lunch, she told us that 2 weeks earlier she went on a drug overdose call.  It turned out to be her niece.  She fought back the tears as she spoke.

Her sister, the mother of her niece, was a drug addict and she never expected her niece to get into drugs because of how she suffered as a child.  Her niece has a child of her own.  The waitress and her other niece are taking care of the child as the drug addict niece attempts to deal with her issues.

Today exemplified why I’m doing this.  People talking about abuse and its affects is key to the healing process and is key for reducing the rate of child abuse.   Today, I’m grateful and humbled by my journey.