Caitlyn, my 14 year old niece, lives about two hours away in Sacramento. My husband, Robert, and I love having her visit. For the last few years we have started the LoRusso Annual Motorcycle Ride. Caitlyn and her dad come for the weekend and we all enjoy a full days motorcycle ride to the coast and nearby towns.  

Caitlyn looks forward to putting on her leather chaps, motorcycle jacket, gloves, boots and helmet for our fun and invigorating rides. Caitlyn rides on the back of her dad’s motorcycle and I ride with Robert. 

It’s so fun when our motorcycles stop side by side at a traffic light and I get to smile, wave and chat with Caitlyn. While we are riding I often make gestures, pointing out hawks above, favorite sights or flapping my arms as if I were flying and propelling our bike.   

We stop in the towns of Occidental, Guerneville, Sebastopol, Bodega Bay and enjoy stopping in Duncans Mills at the Gold Coast Coffee & Bakery to have a picnic lunch on the back deck. The deck is always in the sun and has a butterfly garden, lots of hummingbirds, and a fountain. 

Then off to the coast where Caitlyn loves climbing on the rocks and playing wave tag in the ocean, no matter how cold the water may be. She emerges with jeans soaked up to her knees and a huge smile on her face. She loves the ocean. 

We always enjoy taking Caitlyn to our favorite cafes and I love showing her my favorite shops where she buys a souvenier to commemorate that years ride. One year she bought shells from the gift shop at The Tides in Bodega Bay. This year she bought a necklace from the Northern Light Surf Shop in the town of Bodega. 

Days after Caitlyn and her dad have left, I often find little notes on the refrigerator, in books or on our bulletin boards. It is so sweet to find these little notes from Caitlyn that profess her love for us. Notes such as, “You are my favorite aunt and uncle…I love love love love love love love you both so much…I wish we lived closer so I could see you a lot more often. Like everyday…” 

I am blessed to have Caitlyn in my life and share fun times with this lovely, sweet, funny, smart and beautiful young woman. I look forward to more LoRusso Annual Motorcycle Rides AND, to finding more little love letters from Caitlyn! 

Until next Wednesday, remember, it’s all “for the love of kids…”

In joy, Marilyn