We interrupt the normally scheduled recounting of my frolics on stage doing “The Producers” in order to recapture another summer event . . .We will return to our normally scheduled theater blogging next time.
I may have mentioned before on these pages that I led a very vanilla and unremarkable youth and early adult life. I was the good kid. Didn’t get in trouble. Didn’t even do stuff that should have gotten me in trouble.
As I enter this phase of my life, I’ve wanted to not only explore new and fun things, but recapture some of those things I should have done when younger.
One of those is the purchase of a motorcycle.
My cousin had a dirt bike that I was allowed to ride a few times in the fields behind his house. It was great fun…until it got stolen.
My sister-in-law bought a big bike (I honestly don’t remember what, but it was 750cc-ish) and, on a visit back when I was around 19 years old, was allowed to take it out for a morning wander through the plains of Montana. Again, great fun and freedom.
But, between a limited budget (having this silly penchant for wanting to learn to fly) and life just rolling on, I never indulged in actually getting my own bike. Oh, that and my ex- and I would’ve likely had an all out brouhaha over my decision (which, in retrospect, would likely have been very good for my psyche and led me down a different life path).
So, now, it is my turn to play. This spring, along with Dear Friend, I took a motorcycle safety class. The end result of this class was that passing it counted as passing the state driving test. Yeeha!! And, it stoked a fire to actually get a bike to ride.
Commiserating with friends and colleagues, plus having to roll back expectations in order to fit it into my budget, I settled on a 2000 Honda Shadow 750cc. She’s beautiful.
tucked away safely in the garage
After a few hours practice over the course of a week, done behind the Lowe’s shopping plaza near my place, I was ready to hit the road.
Ex. Hil. Er. Ation!!!
But the big thrill came on my third ride out on the roads when I became recognized as being “In The Club”. Motorcycle riders will, on passing another motorcyclist going in the opposite direction, remove their left hand from the handlebars and flash a wave… outstretched hand or a clenched fist or (in my case) a peace sign (a good summary found here). All are acknowledgment that we are a small, unique group (albeit most MUCH more experienced and worthy than I).
So, on a back road, when oncoming motorcyclist initiated this salute to me, I was luckily stable enough (mentally, emotionally, gravimetrically) to return my own salute.
…and I laughed out loud in my helmet, grinning like a fool…
James Dean… Marlon Brando… Peter Fonda… GnuKid!!
the gnu wild bunch
The Wilds of Ohio 