Spring is Coming

Well It has been quite a while since I have posted a blog here but I hope this does reach a few folk and I hope that all of you out there are doing well. Lets blame the lapse in writing on winter shall we...it sure is hard to get motivated to do much when the weather is bad. However as the days get longer and warmer we are all beginning to to feel that annual anticipation of summer coming on. I think this must be the definition of spring fever.

For me spring fever usually comes with symptoms of wanting to spend more time outside, feeling anxious at work knowing that another beautiful day is ticking by as I sit at my desk and type or file or whatever else I would rather not be doing when the sun is shining and the temperature is rising.

Another recurring symptom of spring fever that I have been suffering from for a few years is the compulsion to buy and ride a motorcycle. I have has a few during my life and I do thoroughly enjoy riding, however one of my riding seasons was cut short a few years ago due to an accident in which the bike was hurt worse than I was. Even though my knee was badly injured in the accident I was raring to go again as soon as I could stand with out the assistance of crutches. Sadly the motorcycle, which was a 60's vintage Triumph chopper, was not up to the task after taking the spill.

Now as the winter months again yield to spring I am again beginning to feel that familiar old yearning for the road on a two wheeled machine. I have recently been musing as to why this is. After all it is quite a dangerous pastime, and no matter how many ways I rationalize it (it will be better on gas than my Jeep, it will get through traffic better, it will be a great addition to my other summer pastimes with my girlfriend, etc...) I have to realize and recognize the inherent risks that accompany such a recreation.

When we are living our lives we are hopefully, constantly struggling to find a balance between long life and enjoyable life. As the news and doctors report almost anything in this world can be bad for you, too much sunshine, too much fresh air, too much of this food or that food, too many drinks and on and on. However if you are listening closely you will also hear that if you are not partaking enough in these things you may also be harming your health. Sunshine gives us vitamin D, fresh air is good for your heart and lungs when taken in during a walk or run, some fatty foods are good for you there is even good cholesterol (who knew), even drinking alcohol in moderation is recommended by some doctors.

So for me, the decision becomes; Is riding a motorcycle beneficial enough for me mentally, physically, and spiritually, (yes spiritually, if you don't understand I doubt I can explain it to you) to take on the risk of permanent injury or even death be it my own undoing or at the hands of another person?

I think the answer now is yes. I trust myself enough to make good decisions about when to ride, where to ride and how to ride. I trust myself enough to be wary while on the road and be the definition of a defensive rider when riding next to that 17 year old who is on the phone while eating and drinking their healthy dose of fast food cholesterol, or behind the bar goer who has had their healthy dose of alcohol.

I also think, that that is a decision that you make each and every time you climb on the back of a motorcycle, whether it be a conscious choice or not. The same goes for all of us and most everything we do, when you get into your car in the morning and begin your drive to work you are saying the you trust yourself (and others) enough to risk that drive to work.

If I say anything today that makes any sense and doesn't sound like mindless babble let it be this...As you live your life be unafraid, be conscious be intelligent, but be unafraid, live your live as if you know you will die soon. Because you will, we all will.

That sounds terribly heavy, but let it be not heavy, let it just be what it is, a fact and let us all enjoy life without fear.


Thanks for following me down that rabbit hole. I will post again soon.

Be well, all of you!