It’s been about a year since my mom passed away (see The Wrong Number, my favorite blog post). Of course, I miss her and that hole in my heart will never heal.
I will say though, with affection, one thing I will miss (but not too much) is her reminding me of certain of my personal failings:
When are you going to get a haircut?
Oh, that beard/goatee/moustache looks terrible!
Look at the size of you! You need to go on a diet!
In other words, my mom was a typical, outspoken mother who tried to guide her child right up until the end. Her admonishments used to bother me a lot. But as I aged, I accepted them and took them good naturedly as a sign of her love for me.
But now that she’s gone, I’m in 100% rebellion mode. 67 years of good-natured repression have exploded.
My moustache is bigger, I’ve lost 70 lbs. and counting (some of that was to get my hip replaced), got a couple of tattoos (that’s another story) and am working on a ponytail. A budding Hell’s Angel I am.
That whirring noise you hear is my poor mother spinning in her grave.
The whirring accelerated back in the beginning of the year when I decided to get a motorcycle. I’d always wanted to ride but had never gotten a bike due to a lack of spousal approval and a desire for domestic tranquility. I did get close, in the early 2010s stopping by a local Harley dealer to check bikes out. Alas….
But NOW, the object of my desire was a late model Harley Davidson Road King Classic. This is a 1,000-pound, chrome-laden beauty with exhaust pipes that will shake the windows of the Vatican. I started researching these bikes, which went out of production in 2014. There were dozens of super-clean used bikes, some with only 5,000 or 6,000 miles.
My mind was made up; I’m getting a Road King!
Since I’ve never ridden, I signed up for a $50 motorcycle safety course sponsored by the Delaware Dept. of Transportation. The course includes the use of their bike and helmet. The goal of the course is that, in 16 hours over two days, they will teach you bike safety and proper riding skills. Hey, this course should be a breeze. How hard can it be? I can ride a bicycle, right?
Wrong!
The first day of the course included some classroom time and 5-6 hours on a small Honda motorcycle in a closed parking lot. The exercises started simple, literally starting with just sitting on the bike. I’ve driven stick-shift all my life, but the combination of controlling the throttle with your right hand, braking with your right hand and right foot, using the clutch with your left hand and gearshift lever with your left foot was daunting. Oh, and you have to balance this thing when you stop and not fall over when you start up from a standstill.
The complexity of each exercise increased one by one. The first exercise of day two included performing a tight figure eight at a walking speed. So far, I had a lifetime total of five hours experience on a bike and now I’m doing circus tricks?
While trying to do the figure eight I did a figure six and fell over. I was the first student that day to lay their bike down. In addition to a bruised ego, I had a bruised butt. The instructor told me that I was not going to pass the course and it would be best if I left. Ouch.
Now what? I couldn’t abandon my dream just because of a minor setback. So, I rethought everything.
Frankly, I was a bit afraid of riding a bike. All I could think was if I couldn’t handle a 500 lb. Honda in the class, how on earth would I be able to manage a 1,000 lb. Harley on the road? Plus, what would happen if I had a rider? What would I do if I bought the big bike and couldn’t manage it?
What to do? Buy a trike! A three-wheeled motorcycle. Genius.
I bought a used 2021 Harley Freewheeler in late September. Before the remnants of hurricane Ian blew through Delmarva, I put 70 miles on it. It’s basically the same as a big Harley but has two wheels in the back. No falling over! I still have the throttle-clutch-gearshift-brake thing to handle, but at least I don’t need to worry about gravity!
I’m lovin’ life!
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It is not the government’s job to shield us from information - no matter how "dangerous" they claim it to be. The true danger is a nation of citizens who blindly follow and parrot government propaganda instead of looking for and courageously expressing the truth.
- Tulsi Gabbard
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This is awesome! I love the trikes! Be safe and have hella FUN! Put loads of miles on and cruise! You’re looking healthy & happy! XX