Well, folks, this is it.
The end of Tentman, Aroostook County edition.
On November 6th, this saturday, I will be leaving The County for the big race in Mexico.
I will not be returning...at least to live anyways.
The Life of Kale R Poland continues on its long, strange trip.
I moved here on a leap of faith. Tired of big box retail and corporate nonsense, I came here, knowing that anything I happened upon for a job would be better than what I was doing.
It was pure fate that I landed a job at a store which thrived on the sports that I was active in. Immediately I was introduced to the amazing community of people and athletes that surround Mojo and the Nordic Heritage Sport Club.
Tons of memories.
-Mountain biking for the first time on singletrack, at night, with Chad, Mike, Chris, and Eileen.
-Brent's Slo Mo Triathlon, hungover. Mike and Von and I decide to do it the night before during a night of drinking.
-Morning swims at Gentile with Erika and Kim
-Running on sunday mornings with Mel, Kyle, Lee, Kim, and Georgina(who has fattened me up!!!); and The Christmas Run on the sunday before the big Holiday, when we spent the morning running to people houses to wish them a merry christmas.
-Big St Patty's Party at the Caverhills.
-Good Times Rides then beers with the whole gang...sometimes having to have the afterparty at the store!
-Mornings BSing with the Northern PT crew
-Nights in Mel's or Penny's Backyard, and the great food both cooked for me.
-Penny's BackPorch Nights, solving the world's problems..heck LIVING at Penny's. She let me shower, do laundry, and fed me so many times. My life would have been a lot more difficult without her the last couple of months.
-Running with Mortland and Barb to Houlton...and running through the night on treadmill with Mortland.
-Lifting with Kate Hanes
-New Years Party, and dancing "wax on, wax off" with Kate and Ralph
-Dinners with Kate and Ralph Knowles
-Aroostook Dirty 30
So much more. I had some of the best times of my life here.
Never will I know a place with friends like I have here. REAL people, who ride, run, swim, LIVE, and still aren't afraid to let loose and have a good time.
The level of support I have received as an athlete from everyone I know in Aroostook County is mindboggling, and it will be repaid in one way or another.
While I hate to leave the people, the reasons I leave aren't secret. People who know me know that I've been striving to remove myself from the retail profession for a long time.
It's opportunity downstate, and lack of it here that forces me to pull up my roots once again and find a new location.
No smooth way of saying it...I will miss seeing all of my friends here in Aroostook County.
krp
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Kale, you've got to be one of the coolest, craziest, and nicest people out there. Good luck with your challenge soon coming up and everything after that too! Brent
ReplyDeletePS Coming to know your history of running, I always wondered how the heck I ever beat you in the running leg of the SloMo Tri at Madawaska Lake...now I know..LOL!!
Kale - it's sure going to be weird not seeing you each time I return to the County...and especially not being welcomed by your wonderful smile and great personality every time I go in to MOJO. Your presence, enthusiasm, and drive for excellence and adventure will be missed greatly!!
ReplyDeleteI sure hope that I can see you again someday and I am so proud to have been able to help you out (in any little way that I did!) for your first triple. Blessings on you and your life and I pray God would continue to enable you to finish strong in everything you do!
Take care, buddy!
Your friend, Sarah G. :)
I will definitely miss your mug (smile and the huge coffee your usually sporting) and energy you effuse. Good luck but don't be a stranger. Singletrack stardom awaits you here. Dawn and I will always have plenty of room for you.
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