i realized this as i was doing 80 down the interstate this morning, front up on my mask, singing at the top of my lungs, a little bit of spit streaming out the corner of my mouth because of the wind, completely euphoric. normally i have to go through a near-death experience to feel that way. craziness. i've been shot at 3 times here in the states. there were several stages after that, but one of them was that complete thrill to be alive. there were several situations both times overseas. the first time i jumped out of a plane and was on my back on the dz looking up and seeing the planes exit the area and watching other jumpers hit the ground and the realization that i'd just done something really stupid and survived. this was nice this morning. it was a beautiful, crisp day, not a cloud in the sky and just a great feeling. and the motorcycle does it for me.
a couple of days ago i took it to the dealer. it's only got 4000 miles on it and it's burning oil. this did not thrill me. while i was there, the guy who sold me the bike came out and talked to me. i felt a little guilty because my bike was a little rough and dirty and said something about "it needs to be washed" and he looked and me and said "no, it needs to be ridden. your bike is my favorite one in the parking lot right now because you're not spending a beautiful day bolting more chrome onto it or wasting time polishing and washing it. you're out riding it." he's right. when i first saw a similar bike two years ago i immediately lusted after it. i rushed home to look it up on the website and find out what it was. the extra wide rear tire, the low slung handle bars, the orange racing paint job... i dreamed about it the whole time i was in iraq. it's not one of the bigger, badder harleys, but they don't talk to me the same way this one does.
this is my baby. i'm not going to abuse it. but i've come to terms with the fact that it's going to get scratched. "there's two types of motorcycle riders. those that have been down and those that are going down." well, i've already been down a couple of times, but that doesn't automatically mean i'm not going down again. i've had to accept that as well. in ten years my bike might need an engine rebuild, a tranny rebuild and a fresh paint job, but as long as it got that way because i was was howling like a moronic coyote and laughing my ass off and just feeling ALIVE, it's money well spent.
gotta go. time to ride...
6 comments:
Great post. Boys and their toys--a special relationship.
I totally agree. What's the fun of having a toy if you don't play with it?
But I am glad to hear that in your euphoric state you're at least wearing a helmet.
Ride safe...I'm jealous.
Word. Boys and their toys. ;) Well, I shouldn't say just boys. I'm sure I've been known to play with my toys when I get something bright, new and shiny.
Ride safely.
i got chris' post and at first it bothered me. it seems like this should be bigger than "boys and their toys". but i guess i don't have any other way to explain it so i'm okay with that.
julie. yup well, kind of. when i was on active duty i had tons of extra time on my hand and i had inherited a junker car, so i decided to deliver pizza and make more money. one night we got held up, the guy pointed his pistol at me and pulled the trigger. police later said it was loaded but it had misfired some how. then again when i was on a deliver i drove past some guys at a street light really slowly, i was looking at house numbers trying to figure out where to deliver, but apparently they thought i was out to get them and pulled and shot at me. that was the end of my delivery days. then on a range someone accidently put rounds over my head.
pw... are the two mutually exclusive?
No, not really. ;)
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