I love my students!

I want to share with you something very special that happened to me the other day. Friday was my final Tour de France stage for this summer. We did the Stage 19 Time Trial, which was mostly in the saddle and really quite a hard stage – to ride as well as to teach. As we were cooling down, one of my students got up and walked out (she’s never done that before, but I know she enjoys the classes so it seemed kind of strange). I said, “Bye Annie, see you next week” and she said, “oh, I’ll be back!”

A few minutes later she returned with a large wooden box filled with bottles, with a blue, white and red ribbon and a little map of the Tour de France. It was a gift for me of wines and beer from the regions where all the stages of the Tour went through!

Speechless! I was truly speechless! This was such a creative and thoughtful gift, and it just overwhelmed me. It made all those late nights putting together the profile and playlists worth it. (In the photo are three of my regulars: Annie, Sue and Brenda).

The card they gave me, signed by many of my regulars with little notes of appreciation, brought tears to my eyes. There is a very deep reason why we do what we do, don’t you agree? It’s to inspire others and to help them change their lives in a meaningful way.

Friday night Jeff and I shared a bottle from the Pyrenees. And yesterday we had a refreshing bottle of Provence Rosé and a Vin de Savoie (Alpes) with with a friend who was visiting with whom I’ve ridden some of those passes in the Alpes (including Alpe d’Huez). My husband can’t wait to drink the Belgian and Dutch beers and I’m saving the Champagne for a special occasion.

Isn’t that creative and fun? One of my student’s husband is a wine rep – I bet they had fun picking them out. Yeah…I love my students!

6 Responses to “I love my students!”

1. Linky Dink says:

   July 26, 2010 at 2:52 pm

   That is so nice! Shows that your participants appreciate you and all of the work you put in to their ride. Enjoy! You deserve it.
2. spencer says:

   July 27, 2010 at 5:26 pm

   Jennifer,

   That is so cool. I did the tour in my classes as well and Sunday I invited all the class members over for a BBQ and a last broadcast by Bob, Craig, Phil and Paul. I figured it was my way of paying them back for 3 weeks of suffering. But suffering together built some serious comraderie. We went from the cobbles to the alps to the pyrenees to the final time trial. I now am having tour withdrawals. Can’t wait til next July!!! take care and enjoy the fruits of your labor
3. Jennifer Sage says:

   July 27, 2010 at 8:16 pm

   Thank you Spencer! Which stages did you do? How many total classes/stages did you teach? How wonderful that you invited your classes over – now that’s an idea I might steal for next year! Did you by any chance take any pictures or video of your TDF classes?

   Thank you Linky Dink, I am now sipping one of the wines from Provence and enjoying it immensely!
4. Elise Bergamin says:

   July 28, 2010 at 4:19 pm

   What a feeling to be able to give to others and for them to turn around a give unto you reaffirming that you are making a difference and touching their lives. To put the effort and time into the perfect gift is even says even more but Jennifer the amount of time, love, care and effort that you put into everything you do for everyone around you deserves this kind of gift and more. I would have completely broken down in tears and you must be feeling very proud. Congrats!
5. Joanne Harrison says:

   July 29, 2010 at 7:41 am

   Hi Jennifer, how great. We did a full on Tour at Basalt Health and Fitness. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 pm, rode the profile of the day, unless it was a rest day, then we went for a burrito…no, just kidding. I posted the ride for the day, had lots of French music, and we lauged a lot. We make up names, like “Lancette” for Radio Shack, and “Charmin Garmin” who won the yellowish jersey, an air brushed creation. Each class we picked a number, and that person won the jersey for the day, and to to pick something from the grab bag. I buy a load of gels, drinks, sports stuff, for the stage win. Charmin Garmin won the overall jersey, for most attendance, and he won a gift certificate from a local restaurant. Also did 2 and 3. All together, cost about $140, but well worth it. I am sending you a smile box thing Charmin sent me, I thought all would enjoy, but I have no idea on how to get it to you. I will send to Funhog.

   Thanks for all your hard work, and ideas. We have done the tour twice now, and the class really loves it, and I find lots of new profiles and music to add to my library.
6. spencer says:

   July 29, 2010 at 3:30 pm

   Hi Jennifer,

   We did stage 2 ,3, 7, 8, 9,10, 12,13,14,15,16,17 and 19. Lots of suffering no crashes. I taught a total of 17 classes during the three weeks of the tour. The classes really worked hard and it got a lot of folks following the coverage on versus. Gotta love the crew of Phil, Paul,Bob and Craig. Didn’t get a chance to take any photos or videos. i’ll have to remember to do that next year. Still having withdrawals!