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Stories and new friends


The original plan was to go up to PA for a HOG Open House at the Harley plant. A few days later upon noticing the date was swapped on the calendar with a benefit ride, plans were changed to meet at Ocean City Bike Fest. And then, life happened and plans needed to be changed again. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. Instead of spending the day moping about it, I looked for opportunities to make it a great weekend. The weekend is not over and already it has been fantastic!

I HAVE TO GET A PACEMAKER. I’M AFRAID. I DON’T LIKE THE HOSPITAL. WILL YOU COME VISIT ME? The text came Friday while I was on a field trip. The parent of a student I had taken under my wing a few years back. I told her I would be there when we returned sometime around 8. Walking through the hospital (and getting lost several times), I felt a surprising surge of energy.  I hadn’t seen either mother or son in almost a year. It brought joy to my heart to see this 15 year old taking such good care of his mother.

Because there was no road trip this weekend, I was able to sleep in. Vacation had officially arrived. It was late last night when I finally got home so my 5 mile run waited until this morning. It was a crisp, beautiful run. My time has been slowing down as my weekly mileage goes up and the sun comes out. This morning, I was able to keep a sub-ten minute mile. A cause for celebration.

One of my favorite things to do with the Blue Star Mothers is volunteer at the VA Hospital in the psychiatric ward. We bring food and socialize with them. The best part of the trip? Talking to the patients. Today’s conversation was with a man from Wake Forest. It came up in conversation that I have a motorcycle. His eyes lit up, “I really enjoy motorcycles.” And the story continued from there…When he was 12 his mother had a lawn mower with a 1.5 horsepower engine. He wanted to put it on his bike so he took the hose and filled the exhaust with it. When he told his mother something was wrong with the mower, she came out and tried to start it only to have water come shooting out the exhaust. He told her it was broken and asked if he could have the engine. After he was given the engine, he mounted the engine on his bike and rode it for years. His eyes lit up as he went back to a time long ago. “What do you have?” he asked. Come to find out, we have the same bike! Shortly after, he quietly stated, “I don’t ride any more. My son won’t let me. I was in a wreck a couple of years ago. I have two Shadow’s locked together in my back yard. My son won’t let me work on them because I will want to ride them. He’s right though. My mind is not as fast and people don’t watch for motorcycles.”

By late in the afternoon, the sun was shining. A great day to ride to the BBQ and Music happening the next town over! While enjoying some BBQ, I received an email from a craigslist ad I answered about a man giving rides for charity. I wasn’t looking for a ride, but rather complimenting him on his bike. We exchanged emails for a bit until I invited him for some BBQ. An hour later (and much dancing while I waited), I heard his incredible story. His is not as easy to tell. It starts with time served in the Navy and Army. In the Army he was in PsyOps. What interesting stories he had there! Talk about manipulation! The conversation turned to the charity he began. He had cancer back in 2001 and saw many children needing a distraction. I did not get all the information about it. (The sun was going down. I was a bit antsy about riding home at dark so the story was cut short.) He took something he loves, riding his Harley, and has paired it with his passion for doing something for kids with cancer and gives rides for money, which in turn goes back into his charity. Time went much too fast!

My day ended with a clean house and plans for a road trip later this week. (No bike rally, but I am sure it will be a great time.) What a fantastic day! A day of stories, new friends, and accomplishments. 

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