I have registered at a site for bike trip journals.

I have registered at a site for bike trip journals. It is http://crazyguyonabike.com. My handle there is glenellynboy. I also go by my real name there, James Batek.

I have entered journal set-up for all my bike trips, but i have only completed one trip journal, for my first trip from my hometown, glen ellyn, illinois, to lake geneva, wisconsin, and back, in 1971. I have begun work on the next trip, in europe. Both of these pieces are published. The subsequent ones are not yet started or published.

coming across Debby Wellander after 50 years

This morning I had a doctor's appointment at Methodist Hospital.

As I was going to sit down after having an x-ray done, a woman was called out of the waiting room by name, Deborah Wellander. I recognized the name as a girl who was in classes with me at Ben Franklin elementary school in Glen Ellyn, IL. Yes, it was Debby. She looked just like her.

I debated whether to say something to her. I don't think i ever spoke to her as a child. She was the target of vicious taunting by other students and she didn't like it. I never did it, but then I never objected.

I decided to wait and not just then talk to her, maybe not at all. But thinking it over I decided it was something I should do.

She was in with the doctor and I was called and seated waiting in the hall.

Then she came out, I stood, and introduced myself, mentioning Ben Franklin in Glen Ellyn. The aide with her looked at me worriedly. I reassured her with a smile. Debby was not recognizing me, or else just not acknowledging she knew me. She was uncomfortable with it. I gathered from her utterance that she was still a bit clumsy. But she had weathered time well, and was not apparently handicapped. Methodist Hospital cares mostly for the nursing home community.

After my visit with the doctor I was passing the waiting room and Debby was there looking out. I smiled at her. That was the last I saw of her.

I hope she is well.