Personal Adventures

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The Journey More than a few years back, I was coming off a very bad year. I had endured a devastating period in my life and needed to plan something fun. I started planning in January for my trip to Sturgis. I was going this year with my long time friend. As most of us do in the winter, I was having a few things done to my bike. This year I was going all out, new custom paint job, new 125” motor upgrade and a few more pieces of chrome. After a long winter, spring finally came. I was able to pull the bike out and start limping my way through the new engine break-in period. I rode faithfully every day, as much as I could, until I finally was able to take it to the red line and see what the new engine could do. I remember I was on Telegraph road sitting at a red light in Taylor, Michigan heading to the Motown Harley Dealership. I looked around, didn’t see any cops and I let her rip. I’ll tell you folks, it was the most adrenalin pumping experience I have ever had. I was at 100 mph by 4th gear and what seemed like just less then a quarter mile, so I lifted off the throttle and hit the brakes. To be honest it was a little more power than I expected but put a huge smile on my face. I couldn’t believe I was over 100 mph that quick on a full dresser. Well, the smile went away very quickly, as I looked in the mirror and saw the flashing lights. The morning we were leaving for Sturgis finally came, after what seemed to be the longest few months I have had to endure in a long time. I was looking forward to this trip with such anticipation that I think I had the bike packed 10 days before we were leaving. My buddy and I planned on meeting just down the road in Ann Arbor for breakfast at a Coney Island. The weather was perfect. The forecast for the whole 2 weeks would be pristine. We finished with breakfast and hit the road. We knew we had to log 15 hour days as we decided to take the long way and stop in Texas to see an old friend. I was riding like I didn’t have a care in the world. Listening to the radio and hearing those pipes sing, with the sound we all love so much. We were waving back at all the kids in the SUV’s and mini vans while the moms rolled up there windows in hopes of blocking the sound of our loud pipes. One thing I remember was the look on the dad’s faces, they were all the same, and they all wished they were us. They all wished they could do what we were doing. They longed to be free on the open road and not have a care in the world. We were the lucky ones in their eyes. Little did I know at that time, they were the lucky ones. We stopped at a truck stop out west one day for some gas and dinner. As I got off the bike I noticed I had a huge rock chip in my front fender. Boy was I upset. I just spent all that money on a paint job and look at, it’s ruined. Of course my buddy thought it was funny as hell and kept saying “chrome don’t get you home”. Yeah, that didn’t help at all. We parked the bikes and started walking towards the building for a meal. As we were walking up, we got the normal reaction all of us get from people. Mothers were grabbing their kids and walking on the other side of the sidewalk. People of course were turning up their nose at the dirty tattooed bikers. Then my stare caught a woman and her child sitting on the grass with a sign that read “Vegas”. Much to my surprise that young boy waved at me and said “Hi Mr. Biker.” After having such terrible thoughts about the way people were talking about us a few moments ago, I decided to go talk with them while my buddy went in and placed our order. Much to my surprise his mother was very open to talking to a “tattooed biker” and before I knew it, I was holding this kid on my lap while I listened to their tragic story. They had just left an 8 year abusive relationship and were trying to make it to Vegas, where her mother lived. Wow, I thought, how very strong willed this woman was to do such a daring thing with her son. Much to my surprise and dismay the 6 year old was telling me most of this sad story. His mom was going to get a job, so they wouldn’t have to depend on anybody but themselves. He was going to get a paper route, so he could buy his first bike, since he was told, they could never afford one in the past. Well before I know it 30 minutes had passed, and my buddy called me on my cell phone and told me lunch was on the table. I asked them to join me and the mom said, “No.” Then her son ran over to me, shook my hand like he was a grown man and said, “Thank you for the invite but we don’t have any money to pay for food today.” Well I reached in my pocket and pulled out a $100.00 bill and said, “Give this to your mom, when I go inside.” Just to let you know, that was probably one of the hardest things this “tattooed biker” had to say while trying not to get choked up. I told my friend the story while we were eating lunch. We reflected on how good our lives were and how thankful we were for everything. I thought of my own issue and loss that I endured and it weighed very heavy on my mind again. We paid our bill and walked out to our bikes. The mother looked at me and mouthed the words thank you. I nodded and we were on our way. We were back on the highway on a hot summer evening feeling the wind in our hair and heat off the asphalt. About 10 miles down the road, I just couldn’t stop thinking about that woman and her son. I waved my buddy up next to me and gave him the universal circle around and go back sign. He nodded and we got off at the next exit. We went back to that truck stop that day and told that woman and her child to get on our bikes. We took them to the bus station and bought them tickets to Vegas. I gave her my cell phone to keep in contact with her mother to ensure she had a ride when she got there. Between my friend and I, we gave her about a $1000.00 cash. To insure, he got his bike and she was able to get what she needed to start looking for a job. A few months later, I received a box in the mail with my cell phone and a check for $2500.00. It was from that woman and her son. She had gotten a job, an apartment and a car with our help. Her son also, wrote me a letter and enclosed a picture of his new bike. He had some fake tattoos on his arms. He was wearing a leather vest and a skull cap. He wrote to me and said “I wished that my Dad was more like you, and helped people instead of hurting them. Thank you so much for helping my Mom and I.” Such a profound statement from a young boy, never would I think I would hear that much maturity in such a small boy. That child’s name was Cameron; I will never forget him as long as I live. I often think of him when I ride and how we helped change his life. I only hope he will do the same one day for somebody in need. At that moment in time I learned a valuable life lesson. It’s not about big motors and awesome paint jobs. It’s not about the big promotion or what car you drive. It’s about helping other people, who are down on their luck, because it will come back to you. Whether its money or just a conversation somebody might need. You should try and do what you can to make somebody’s life just a little better. Take a chance and do something that could change a life, the life you change just might be your own. I think about that little boy and his mother everyday. I still can’t believe they repaid me, even when they didn’t have to. I never asked for anything in return, nor did I expect it. But it’s not the money that made me happy. It’s the fact that they have a better life, because of my actions and are not in that abusive relationship anymore. Bad things will happen to us, or somebody we are close to, in our lifetime. Some things are worse than others. Family and loved ones are a great source to help you through trying times. Like those Dads that had that look of envy on their faces in the vans and SUV’s. They were really the lucky ones, they were with their family. I myself was in a horrible accident just before I left on this trip. I have blamed myself for many, many years. I had two passengers with me, a woman and her young son. I have been though hell and back, wondering why I made it and they didn’t. Dealing with the nightmares and the constant reminders of that day has been very difficult. I have never been able to get over how many peoples lives were affected that day we were hit by a drunk driver. I thought it was my fault that those two people were taken away from their loved ones. Maybe, this was somehow a connection to that mother and child that I helped out west, her sons name was Cameron, also. I often wondered, why I made it and they didn’t. I don’t believe it was to get a new paint job or a new motor in my bike. After that experience, I no longer think those things are important. I think the reason I made it was to help that woman and her son make it to Vegas, and not go back to that abusive relationship. I am sharing this today, in hopes, that somebody will take the time to help somebody they know who is in need. If you don’t know somebody look around, they won’t be hard to find. This is the 2nd time I have told anybody about my accident. The 1st was the person who I love very much, my girlfriend. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you have given me. I am a better person because of people like that boy. I am a better father because of my son, whose name is also Cameron. But I am a better man and human being because of you. Not because that’s what you need but because I need you. You are my help in this cynical world. Maybe, just maybe I survived so that I could meet you! All my love, Me.