Motorcycles & Defying Death

10-24-2008 Sadly, one of my son's Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, avid motorcycle riders, were involved in a disastrous bike-car crash the weekend of October 18, 2008. Thankfully, they are alive. They were enjoying a fall bike ride. Cool temperatures, and clear skies. In fact, the couple enjoyed any ride, taking advantage of every opportunity to chase pavement. Saturday was not much different, until the young driver behind the wheel of an oncoming car turned into their path at the last moment. They had no choice but to go down – hard. And without helmets. To some, this lifestyle would be thrilling, fun, and exciting. Others would consider it death-defying and bordering on irresponsible behavior for a sixtyish couple with grown, near-grown, and young grandchildren. Regardless, I am relieved that they are alive and just starting on the road…to recovery But this isn’t about them so much as it is about me. When I was in my youth my two older brothers each had Cushman Eagle scooters or motorbikes. Not the big, honking, powerful motorcycles of today, but just as dangerous. Of course none of us ever thought about the danger. We were young and would live forever, we thought. If we even thought at all. I never had my own scooter or motorbike, but took rides with my brothers and, occasionally, got to ride by myself. Even then it was thrilling, fun, and exciting. And death defying. Mostly because of the actions, or inactions, of others on the road, many of who never see an oncoming bike. Dangerous, too, because of actions of the bike rider. Once at about the age of 13, I was riding someone else’s bike around the town of Jacksonville, Arkansas where I grew up. During the ride I attempted to turn around at the side of a parking lot to head back home. Not being very experienced, I paid no attention to the patch of gravel that caught my front wheel, causing it to lose traction and putting me down. But it was nothing. I was going very slowly, wasn’t hurt and neither was the bike. Hardly anyone wore helmets in the 1950s. A lesson learned at very little expense. Still, I enjoyed the riding and feeling power beneath my butt and the wind in my face. A desire had been created. Another time, ten or 15 years later, and married, I took a friends trail bike for a spin. All was going well. The trail bike had much more power than I’d imagined and I found myself trying to escape another patch. This time it wasn’t gravel, but a briar thicket. Again, not injured, just scratches. But for all the fun and desire, I just could never seem to get enough money together to buy my own bike. A car was simply much more practical. Then there were groceries to buy, bills to pay, and a little boy to rear. The priorities didn’t save a place for a bike. The desire began to die out. By the time I was 50 the kids were raised and other expenses rushed in to fill the limited financial vacuum. Still no money for a bike, but the desire was back and keeping a small ember alive. In 1980 I began a career in the medical industry. I saw the occasional bike-crash amputee. Nearly 20 years later I began work for an Orthotic & Prosthetic laboratory that custom made, among other medical devices, prosthetic limbs, also known as artificial legs and arms. Most prostheses – the plural of prosthesis – were made for diabetics who had lost a leg because of complications of diabetes. Other prosthetic patients included bike-crash patients. Some still ride, others gave up riding for what they called a healthier lifestyle. The point of all this is that for nearly 30 years my desire to have a motorcycle has been tempered by seeing firsthand what can happen. Oh, I can appreciate the nice rides, the thrill, fun, and excitement. At the same time my personality, something deep within my aging head, would always pair a picture of a nice ride with a picture of an amputation, or worse – meaning death. I may now have the money, but I’m just too damn old. I want to live to enjoy, and see what my grandchildren do with their lives. I have no regrets. I’m comfortable with my other vices, so I’ll just keep those and try to defy death a bit longer. - # -