Well, a big chapter of my life is about to end (hopefully). Somebody is supposed to come by on Saturday to buy my motorcycle. I'm happy that it's finally selling since we've been trying to sell it since about April, and Terry's sold months ago already, but I will be sad to see it go. :(
It was really a big part of my life when I first moved to Chicago, and was really the thing that got me out and about in Chicago and meeting people and getting involved in something besides work. When I moved here I knew about 3 people, now I can honestly say I know hundreds, and quite of few of those I met through the motorcycle. And most importantly, if not for the bike, I most likely would not have met Terry. We were both members of the same HOG chapter (a Harley sanctioned motorcycle club - not like the Hells Angels or anything) and every week the club got together to go for breakfast rides. Terry and I got to know each other on these rides, and had our first date in Daytona during Bike Week of 1995. So much of our early relationship was based around the motorcycle and those breakfast rides. Then as we got together more, we ended up going to Sturgis 2 or 3 times, Daytona another 2 or 3 times and lots of other places mostly in the midwest - within riding distance. We really had a lot of fun on them.
But things change, times change, we change, and we just weren't riding them anymore. In the first year I put 10,000 miles on it, and in the last 3 years I've put about 200 miles on it. I swore when I first got it that I would never sell it. It was my baby and I was so proud - not just of the bike, but of the fact that I was able to own something like that and pay for it all by myself. I was a little more independent then (ok, a lot more independent), and it was kind of a statement for me. Not only did I not need a man to drive the motorcyle, but I didn't need one to help pay for it either!
We were never really what you would think of as "bikers" but thought of ourselves more as "enthusiasts." We enjoyed the bikes and spent a lot of time with them and on them, but we really didn't live the "biker life." If it was below 40 degrees, forget it, we took the car to breakfast. ;) If it was raining, forget it, we took the car to breakfast. ;) You get the idea.
Anyway, so this doesn't get too long, 'cause I could go on forever about my bike, just like I can go on forever about T & P, I just wanted to share a few pictures with you. I was digging all the stuff out for when they come by on Saturday and I couldn't help but spend too much time looking back at all the fun I/we had on the bikes.
This first pic is shortly after I got the bike. There was a shindig going on at the Harley shop that I bought it at - and that one of my best friends worked at - and this was supposedly a professional photographer who took the pic. This was fall of 1994. (look how long my hair was! :eek: )
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...a/faf1748b.jpg
This next one was at the annual Toys for Tots run in Chicago. Up to 10,000 bikes gather every year to donate toys for the kids. It's a lot of fun being in the parade, but it's also a lot of fun watching. We would head out with the whole group, then about 1/2 way we'd stop at a McDonalds and watch and wave as the rest of them rode by. It was usually cold, thus all the clothes, but it was fun and I'm glad we took part because it makes for good memories. (the date isn't right on the pic because I didn't even have the bike in April of '94)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...3/faf17495.jpg
And here's a picture of my 80 year old Grandma the first time she saw my bike. She came out of her apartment and just climbed right on! I was like "Grandma, be careful, the pipes are hot!" but she didn't care, just climbed right on and pretended like she was going to go for a ride. :D 'Course when I actually offered to take her for a ride, she said no, no, but she had a lot of gumption. She's been gone now for about 5 years or so, and I miss her spunkiness - probably where I got some of mine from. :D
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...0/faf17492.jpg
And finally, Terry and I had bought matching leather jackets, with the sheepskin or sherling or whatever it's called inside. They are beautiful jackets and were quite expensive. This pic was taken at the Harley shop after another Toys for Tots run. The "stand" was empty because they were changing the mannequins or something, so somebody suggested that Terry and I get up and model our new jackets - so we did! I particularly like this pic because it reflects the joking around, goofiness and general good times we had with the bikes and the people we got to know through them.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...f/f3c91183.jpg
So that's all. I could post hundreds of pictures here, like some of those in Sturgis, in the Badlands, in the Keys, driving down the highway (because yes, I rode mine to Sturgis. What? It's only 1000 miles. ;) ) and many many more of the picnics and runs we attended. Which reminds me, every year one of our first runs was a poker run, and before everyone took off, they had a minister/priest/whatever he was do a bike blessing. They would go around the parking lot and individually bless everyone's bike and ask God to watch out for them and help them to ride safe. We always tried to make a point of going to that run to start the year off.
Ok, I guess I'll leave it at that 'cause I'm starting to get all choked up thinking about all this. It was a wonderful time in my life, but I guess it's just time to turn the page and go on to the next chapter......
