ALT-1 Motorcycle Rides
This article first appeared on my blog at Blogspot On December 12th 2005 titled "When we used to Ride" it was written in a past tense, however it has been changed to reflect a present tense for this publishing.
When we ride
When we ride our motorcycle, there are times when we cannot hear each other, the pipes or maybe the roads itself are too loud. During these times however we still manage to let the other know that we were still awake, still warm, or needed a break, simply by touching or squeezing each other. As my left hand dangles naturally over her left knee, it is through her left calf that I send all my messages; she sends hers through whatever part of me is convenient at the time…Usually, my shoulder, and occasionally my head..
Of all the messages we send or receive none is more important than the one conveyed with three simple taps, one, two, three…I, Love, You. For us, the I Love You’s mean more than the normal tap, it is the message sent when we crest a hill, the magnificence of all God’s creation ours alone to view, when riding out of the rain into the sunshine, when laying down the first tracks on the first snow in the neighborhood, and then somewhere around eleven thousand feet, when the bike, the road, and us, became as one, hitting that groove, breaking that unseen barrier and feeling even for just a short while, total freedom…And of course, before, during, and after any and all close calls with nature, inattentive drivers, or whatever challenge the road provided for us. One, Two, Three, I, Love, You…
One, Two, Three, I, Love, You…sometimes for no reason at all other than, well, because we love each other, and those three taps were all we had at the moment, Every sound worth hearing crushed by the roar of those pipes, every sensation destroyed by hours in the saddle, because every ride has miles somewhere that must be ground out, white knuckled, teeth grinding, nerve ratcheting miles endured through sheer will. One, Two, Three…I, Love, You…Just that quick, the grind has become a bit less painful. Physically, nothing changes, knuckles are still white and frozen upon the grips, and your butt is still numb, your legs and arms don’t even exist anymore. The renewed emotional strength found in this simple reaffirmation of a life shared, Overwhelms the physical discomfort, and reminds us of why we ride in the first place.In the ride we call life; the road noise of reality can crush our emotions and destroy our sensibilities. Often we can find no beauty in any of God’s creations, and the groove of life feels more like an endless rut, with no end in sight, and the grind is days or even weeks long. One, Two, Three, I, Love, You…A phone call from one of the kids, for no particular reason…One, Two, Three, I, Love, You…An old friend stops by just to talk…One, Two, Three, I, Love, You…the brother you called for no particular reason, talked your ear off…One, Two, Three, I, Love, You…a knowing touch from the spouse, along with a smile that says “ I am here for you, always”…One, Two, Three, I, Love, You…A beautiful sunrise, a warm dry road through the mountains, and once again all of Gods creations are magnificent. Life and Love reaffirmed partnerships and shared experiences to anticipate, and one or two small reminders that truly, it is good to be alive.Carpe Diem, and keep this in mind, It takes less time to say I love you, than to heal the hurt if you don’t…
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