8/31 ~ San Diego ~ The End?

1995 USAIDS 5,000
(20th Anniversary Special)
Post #72:
Thursday, 10:59am, August 31, 1995. T-Minus 1 Minute & Counting:  [ Excerpts from AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM STORY accompany some photos, edited to show actual names. ]

~~~

Picture #180

This is what people saw in the morning newspaper--Iron Butterfly baby!

[ I’ve been able to see America in a unique way, both at its best and worst, with its majestic size and beauty, its vast resources and terrain, and its blessed people who enrich this soil by bringing the many cultures of the world to one land we call these United States. . . ] (Picture courtesy of North County Blade-Citizen, August 31, 1995)

~~~

Picture #185

This is what was plastered around town at various locations.

[ . . . The end was literally around the bend. The AIDS Foundation of San Diego had arranged a grand rally and reception for 11:00 sharp. . . ] (Flyer courtesy of AIDS Foundation)

~~~

Picture #184

This is one of the first things I saw, turning onto the final street.

[ . . . The difficult part for me was to not arrive too early; it needed to be timed exactly right for some live TV coverage. I circled around several city blocks in a bicycle version of pacing until receiving the thumbs up from Carl Lebman. Appropriately clad in stars and stripes, I turned the final corner of approach, not knowing for sure what to expect. It was time for a new chant: “This last mile is for you and me, God. We did this together— we beat the odds and achieved mountains. . .” ] (Picture from August 31, 1995)

~~~

Picture #181

This is the guy they saw.

[ . . . Followed by the escort vehicle, one daughter and granddaughter, and, of course, Carl Lebman, who unselfishly gave this moment to me, this would be something I hoped to live long enough to tell my grandchildren, (and now great-grandchildren). Chills ran up my spine as I heard the crowd begin to rumble, and then roar in thunderous applause and cheers. I could see the red ribbon across the road, tied with huge AIDS ribbons on both sides—the official end. Camera men scrambled down the street, wanting to photograph this piece of history, this oddity, this feat that no person with AIDS had ever accomplished. . . ] (Picture from August 31, 1995)

~~~

Picture #192

It was a lot to take in all at once, and a pretty impressive showing by AIDS Foundation, and the general community.

[ . . . Flags, banners, cheers, and tears, they were all present. . . . ] (Picture from August 31, 1995)

~~~

Picture #186

One by one, they took turns issuing proclamations.

[ . . . There would be representatives from Being Alive, the AIDS Foundation of San Diego, and the city and county of San Diego, well-wishers, and a host of TV, radio, and newspaper reporters to document this moment and to welcome me with proclamations, gifts, flowers, and love. . . ] (Picture from August 31, 1995)  

~~~

Picture #187

This was presented from the County.

[ . . . This moment was theirs as much as mine, yet they may never know the feeling they etched on this man’s heart. . . ] (Courtesy of San Diego Fourth District)

~~~

Picture #190

This was presented by the City Council of San Diego.

[ . . . Pumping my fist into the air, I was shouting, “We did it” and, “I love you” and, “Thank you friends! . .” ] (Courtesy of San Diego City Council)

~~~

Picture #191

This was presented from both the AIDS Foundation and Being Alive, San Diego. (I have not been able to verify that these agencies still operate.)

[ . . . Yes, most of all, thank you to my friends who cared-many friends, hundreds of friends; some who had traveled long distances to see, greet, meet, and hear from me, Jim Petretta, the Viper, one man who dared to live out his impossible dream.]

Note: (From Pride Ride News) During my tour of AIDS Foundation, I learned just how much can be done for a city on so little a budget. To keep themselves focused, they dedicated one hallway to both honor those loved ones who have passed, and to serve as a reminder of the mission present, everyday. The hallway seemed endless--with tributes to more lives than can be counted--all lost to AIDS--and all from San Diego. . . I couldn't have selected a better ending point for my ride. Buffalo, here I come!

(Proclamation courtesy of AIDS Foundation and Being Alive)
 

8/30 ~ Camp Pendleton

1995 USAIDS 5,000
(20th Anniversary Pictorial Tour)
Post #71:
[ Excerpts from AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM STORY accompany each photo, edited to show actual names. ]

 ~~~

Picture #188a

[ To stay on the already-revised schedule, I had to rack the bike half the distance to Oceanside, our next planned stop, which was Camp Pendleton Marine base where my son-in-law Ollie was stationed. . . . ] (Picture from August 30,1995) 
— with Melinda South and Son-in-law Oliver South

Jeff Schroeder · Friends with Melinda South  Man! That is a young Ollie South! 
Melinda South Jeff Schroeder, do you think he was into himself back then? Lol

~~~

Picture #188b

[ . . . Visiting was in order, so that’s exactly what Carl did while Dad (me) crashed on the sofa. After a scrumptious dinner prepared by Melinda, my granddaughter Courtney, then about 14 months old, fully entertained us by playfully posing for many pictures. . . ] (Picture from August 30, 1995) 
— with Courtney Gourlay 

Melinda South And now this is her little guy, John Oliver!

Courtney Gourlay My baby pictures remind me so much of my little monkey boy!

Sue Fleming what a little cutcie

~~~

Picture #189

[ . . . It was a good night’s rest; it must have been, because I slept longer than I had in three months. With only one full biking day remaining, I was being prodded by media and family, all wanting to know, “now what?” I didn’t know the answer. I didn’t even have a place to live. I didn’t want to think about those challenges yet. . . ] (Pictures from August 30, 1995) 
— with Sleepy Jim Petretta, Melinda South and Courtney Gourlay 

Melinda South Wow, we were so young! Now my baby has a baby of her own.
Jim Petretta Go ahead, post a picture of Courtney holding John Jr.

Jim Petretta From baby daughter to grandson, you haven't shown you've aged 20 years, Melinda; you are still beautiful. 
Melinda South Thanks dad!
Virginia Sheppard-Dapshis · very cute 
   

~~~

Picture #182

[ . . . With one day to go, I dug out the “make-up miles” list and knocked another measure off while touring Camp Pendleton. I returned to find that San Diego’s North County News was on base for a final interview preceding my highly-anticipated arrival. The story was a gimmie, but I was asked to bike up and down the street countless times to give the photographer a chance to snap a perfect picture for the article. After all that effort, the editor selected a posed, stationary photo. Still, my smile was genuine, as was the Iron Butterfly t-shirt I proudly sported. (full pic tomorrow.) It was one of those rare “I made it” smiles that sometimes make it to the history books, but then, Jim Petretta is no Pedro. . . ] (Picture taken on August 30, 1995; Picture and article courtesy of The Blade-Citizen, North County, August 31, 1995) 

~~~

Picture #183

[ . . . After making final hotel arrangements at the Super 8, our team left the base for my final biking day to the planned destination city of San Diego. Melinda and Courtney rode with Carl ; they spent the final Super 8 night with us, to be available for the last mile in the support vehicle. While they played Rummy, I slipped off into introspective contemplation, then slumber. ] (Article courtesy of North County News, August 31, 1995) 

8/29 ~ Ingram Micro Santa Ana

1995 USAIDS 5,000
(20th Anniversary Pictorial Tour)
Post #70: 
[ Excerpts from AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM STORY accompany each photo, edited to show actual names. ]  

[You’ve heard of getting up on the wrong side of bed? How about starting the day out bicycling ten miles in the wrong direction? I’ll blame it on a late night, but that’s what I did. Since my Boy Scout days, I’ve always prided myself on having a natural ability to go in the right direction, as well as knowing what direction that is. With a major corporate sponsor waiting patiently, I chose this day to lose my bearings—Murphy’s Law at its purest. Carl dug out the map and convinced me “the other way is correct.” I kicked things into high speed, rolling into Ingram Micro’s western headquarters parking lot in Santa Ana in the late morning. Most of the welcoming team had dissipated and gone back to work, a big time oops! . . . ]

 ~~~

Picture #175

[ . . . Not surprisingly, we learned how this company had grown to become an international software leader and industry force, then marketing the newly unveiled Windows 95. (That seems like eons ago.) Our tour started with a warm reception organized by the philanthropic committee. One by one, I shook their hands while being introduced to a number of staff that that have been motivated by USAIDS 5,000, enough to participate in the April San Francisco to Los Angeles AIDS Ride, which benefited those two cities. A computer analyst guided us through the complex sales, marketing, purchasing, and warehouse operations of just one facility; there were several. Shipping departments were so highly automated that fork lifts had been designed to ride the aisles dead center. . . ]

— with Ingram Micro Bike Team #1, Ingram Micro Marketing Mgr., Ingram Micro Warehouse Mgr. and Ingram Micro Bike Team #2

 ~~~

Picture #176

[ . . . I was only scantily dressed to begin with, so I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t pass quietly through the metal detector to get out. Carl saved the day by suggesting that my cycling shoes must contain some steel reinforcements. He was right. Our visit ended with a kick-ass lunch in Ingram Micro’s Hard Disc Café. They had one final gift for me—a complimentary night at the posh Windsor Suites, complete with glass elevators and indoor gardens and pools, with suites large enough for a good-sized family. “This mile is for Ingram Micro and a dozen or so more for their bicycling team for AIDS.” ]

Special Tributes

1995 USAIDS 5,000
(20th Anniversary Special)
Supplemental Post #69: 
 ~ Tribute to Pedro Zamora & Carl Lebman ~ 

Edited excerpt from AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM STORY:

[I doubted that anyone would be aware of my mountains; however throughout my time in California, I kept getting questions about some young man named Pedro Zamora: Had we met? Did I know him? What did I think of his story?

Pedro had a positive effect on my bike trip, even though we never met. In fact, until asked, I had not heard of MTV’s Real World, let alone the cast in the production of the San Francisco season. It wasn’t until 1997, when I watched an MTV marathon of Real World, that I grasped the impact of this character.
Pedro was the first openly gay man with AIDS to star on TV in what I believe was the first reality-type programming. He was an adorable young man of twenty-four, in love, and he chose to be an activist for our cause. Millions of viewers felt love for and attachment to Pedro, bringing great credit upon himself and MTV. As it turns out, on the day the final episode was aired in November, 1994, Pedro succumbed to his disease. 

The short, powerful legacy of Pedro Zamora paved the way for my personal positive reception in California. (The story of Pedro was made into a movie, which aired in 2009 on MTV and is available on DVD.) I would like to have met you, amigo.]

Looking back to November of 1994, when America fell in love with Pedro, I would have been fully occupied, preparing for this bicycle journey, while still working for the original Benedict House in Buffalo, even before I met Carl. Pedro's journey ended six months before mine began, yet we shared a passion for life, and for our cause. I credit the bicycle trip for saving me, and for those of you who have regarded me as "hero", I beg to differ. I was struggling to make sense of it all, and struggling for life, too. I don't know why I was one of the lucky ones--able to find a way to keep going--often asking, "Why me, and not Pedro?" But I'm really glad to still be around, to tell stories of all the wonderful people I met during the summer of 1995. If you are one of them, I thank you with my very being.

In the next few days, I will be posting the final days of USAIDS 5,000, pictures and stories, including those from the ride home. I'm thankful for a platform to share this little piece of history. AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM STORY was written as fiction, even though it was based on a true story. I regret not keeping it a memoir, mostly because it gives insufficient credit to folks who helped make that story possible, and especially those who gave me the opportunity to have a bicycle dream come true--real heroes, like Carl Lebman. Thanks for letting me share you as part of my own story--without pay. 

For My Hero (From AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM STORY)
(1995) (A Tribute to Carl Lebman)

When first we met, a lifetime ago
Eight months of calendar time
I couldn’t know then how my heart would grow
And culminate into this rhyme
That you believed in me

Then off we were; exploring this land
While receiving much more than we gave
From hills and woods to ocean’s sand
Hearts filled with treasures to save
And you believed in me

Yet many were days, through those we met
When our hearts reaching out couldn’t heal
The pain and fear of each who regret
Broken lives and wounds they now feel
Still, you believed in me

With weary heart and withered feet
With major doubts in my mind
As to whether or not this man could complete
A journey and task of such kind
But, you believed in me

Now looking back through tremendous trials
Seeing clearly and without remorse
It was God pushing you over all of those miles
Thereby making me stay on course
Yes, I believe in you

8/28 ~ Disneyland

1995 USAIDS 5,000
(20th Anniversary Pictorial Tour)
Post #68: 
[ Excerpts from AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM STORY accompany each photo, edited to show actual names. ]

 ~~~

Picture #170

[ One reporter after another asked, “What do you want to do when your trip is over?” We replied, “Disney Land, of course,” and why not? Isn’t that what you hear on all the commercials? Disney Land it was, thanks to the combined efforts of Carl Lebman, the Children’s and VA Hospitals of Buffalo, and Disney, Incorporated, who invited our team to dream the Disney dream. In excess of hundred-degree heat, I played kid, dragging Carl to the Bobsleds, Space Mountain, Small World, Lion King Parade, and monorail. The trip wouldn’t be complete without a photo shoot with none other than Mickey Mouse. . .] (Picture from August 28, 1995 
— with Lebman Carl

Nancy K. Sorensen That was great that you got to go. I, myself, do not have that destination on my bucket list.

~~~
Picture #171

[ . . . Being fried (literally and figuratively) by afternoon, we headed back to the hotel to crash and rest up for round two that evening. . . ] (Photos from August 28, 1995)

~~~

Picture #172

[ . . . As the evening opened with the Parade of Lights by GE, we marveled at floats and characters from many films, all in millions of miniature lights, including illuminated costumes. I was enchanted and amazed at how the music score was synchronized from float to float. Independently unique, but equally impressive, was the grand fireworks display at Peter Pan’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom. (It was a distant interpretation of my Peter Pan role back in Leroy, Indiana.) Not even that could compete with Fantasmic, an outdoor spectacle of such grand scale that only Disney could create it. . .] (Picture from August 28, 1995)

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Picture #173

[ . . . The Fantasmic plot stars Mickey with his own quest to dream. The Evil Queen from Snow White fights for control of Mickey’s dreams, thereby turning them into nightmares. Prior to the show, a cute two-year-old toddler named Christian entertained us with antics involving his flashlight, which was equipped with fiberglass light streams. Carl kept getting stabbed in the ribs, while I endured bops over the head. When finally worn out, the lad plopped down in the most comfortable spot he saw—my lap. Once the show began, Christian stood, clinging to Carl’s neck for the full twenty-five-minute extravaganza. That speaks well for the production, which includes live musical performances, animated characters, strobe and laser light shows, cartoon visuals on water screens, fountains and fireworks, live and taped sound effects, a real pirate ship (complete with Captain Hook and his acrobatic sword fights), and the Mark Twain Steamboat hosting all the Disney characters. Orchestrated to perfection, this creation remains the most elaborate production I have ever witnessed. It was truly magic, and proof that we’re never too old to be a kid! ] (Picture and admission ticket from August 28, 19950
— with Lebman Carl   

8/27 ~ Anaheim

1995 USAIDS 5,000
(20th Anniversary Special)
Post #67: 
Notes accompany each picture.

~~~

Picture #174

Onward to Anaheim was the plan, with five days remaining. Not the longest ride for sure, but certainly the hottest. It spiked to 108 degrees; by the time we reached Super 8 in the evening, Carl and I opted to chill and rest for the huge day to follow. The next photo is a clue of what tomorrow will bring. For now, a huge shout out to our corporate sponsor, Super 8 Motels. I cannot say enough good about them! 
— with Lebman Carl

~~~

Picture #169

Here's a sneak peek of our day, twenty years ago, tomorrow. 
— with Lebman Carl 

8/26 ~ Sunset Junction Street Fair

1995 USAIDS 5,000 (20th Anniversary Pictorial Tour)  
Post #67: 
[ Excerpts from AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM STORY accompany each photo, edited to show actual names. ]

~~~

Picture # 161

[ The chief financial goal of the Imperial Court of LA was to assist PLWAs needing temporary help with medicine costs and utility bills. They also supplied food baskets twice yearly to all hospices in LA County, which was quite an ambitious undertaking for a small group. . . ] (Autographed Flyer courtesy of Imperial Court of Los Angeles, August 26, 1995)

 ~~~

Picture #162b

 
[ . . .To further their cause, they (ICoLA) contract for a beer kiosk at the annual Sunset Junction Street Fair near one of the stages. . . ] (Picture from August 26, 1995)
— with Jamie Cole, ICoLA

~~~

Picture #163

[ . . . While I volunteered time selling buckets of brew for the Court, Carl managed to get on stage to promote the bike trip, sell t-shirts for us, and invite the crowd to meet me at the beer tent three doors down. . . . ] (Picture from August 25, 1995)

 ~~~

Picture #164

 
[ . . . A double-win, for sure—the Court never sold so much beer before then. By day’s end, all the kegs were dry. . . ] (Picture from August 26, 1995)
— with Jamie Cole, ICoLA

 ~~~

Picture #165

[ . . . Any wet celebration had to be back at Mae West’s place later that evening. Reeking of stale brew, the only wet celebration I wanted was in Mae’s room-sized shower. ] (Picture from August 26, 1995) 
— with Robin (Rubin Fimbres), ICoLA, Bill Richards, ICoLA and Lebman Carl