You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda

I've found a blog by a dude named Crusty the Biker, and he seems to be just that! Now Crusty, if for some reason you read this, no malice intended! I enjoy his blog and his writing. His blog is, for the most part, motorcycle oriented. He did a post with the same title as I am using for this one, but mine is going a different direction. As of a few weeks ago, I am a Honda owner.
I purchased a 1986 Shadow VT1100.



I've always been interested in motorcycles since my first ride when I was about 10. On and off over the years I toyed with getting one but always had a reason not to. Most of the time it was fear of my mother! My mother has always, very adamantly, been against me EVER owning a motorcycle! Yep, I admit it, she's 78 years old and can still kick my rump from here to the moon! One of the very few people in this world that I am truly intimated by (Yvette being the other!) but I digress! I decided after talking with Yvette about it for the billionth time, that I was gonna really look at getting one. She was still not crazy about it, but after finding a bike at a local shop, I talked her into going with me to see it. That bike was a Rebel, a small bike but from what I had read, a good first bike. Yvette didn't like it, saying I was too big for it. She then told me to sit on the bike next to it, a 06 Shadow. BAM! That was it! SHE liked how I looked on it, I liked how it felt under me WE DIDN'T like the $6500 asking price! Our next stop was another, and I think the biggest bike shop around Fresno where I pal of mine works. I sat on more bikes and then SHE sat on a bike and BAM PART TWO!! All of the sudden SHE WANTS ONE TOO! I'm thinking this is great! I'm getting one for sure now!


The next few weeks go by, I take the MSP class and pass without falling off, I look at some bikes for sale more in my price range, and settle on the 86 Shadow! Yvette and I go to pick it up and because the back tire isn't in great shape and the bike is in the foothills, we load it in my truck and head home.................to the REAL test!!!!

My mother lives around the block from where I live. The only way to get onto my street, is to pass in plain view of her house. I'm praying "don't be outside...don't be outside" as we drive down the street towards her house before we turn onto our street. The bike gods were smiling on me as she wasn't outside when I turned! WOOO-HOOO! Phase one complete! We unload and start to play with my new toy! A few more days go by and at last I can't take it anymore! Time to face the music. Now I'm not the worlds smallest guy, even six foot 200 lbs of pure man meat (or so the babes tell me!) note here, I love you Yvette!! My mother is a wimpy 5'5" 130LBS AT BEST! AND SHE'S 78 YEARS OLD! So what do I have to worry about? I march right up to her and wrap my nine foot arms around her and in as tough a voice as I've ever used I say "I love you mommie!" She replies in typical fashion "What do you want?" While still having a firm grip of her I tell her "Nothing, I just love you and I bought a motorcycle." "YOU DID WHAT??" was the first thing I heard. The next thing I heard was a battering sound and I felt great pain to my rib area as my little ol mommie was slugging my with both fists like she was Rocky Balboa and I was a side of beef in a locker! I hung on for a few punches as I started to see my life flash before me. "DID YOU REALLY" she demanded as her last punch broke my hold (and maybe a rib or two). "Yes, I did" I sputtered in between big gasps of air. The next few minutes were the typical "you'll kill yourself on that thing" and "I don't want to see it" but then she calmed down, much to my surprise, and we really talked. I told her that before dad died, he had all these plans about moving to Weed, and seeing the country after mom retired. He was here in the morning and but gone that night. Bonner had much of the same plans. He got sick on a Thursday and was gone by Sunday. You just never know and I don't want to never know! She looked at the lawn, tears filling her eyes and I reached for her and gave her a hug, telling her that I will be as careful as I can and always were my protective equipment. We shared a wonderful mother and son few minutes as I held her and our thoughts wondered to the people that we had lost in the last few years. These people all had dreams and were gone in what seems like a flash. She understood me and I understand her.

I've ridden the bike around town a little and put a few miles on it. I'll be taking it in for a complete once over and I'm sure I'll hear about hidden things wrong with it. I plan to just be a weekend rider, nothing too exciting. Except maybe sharing my new found joy with some of the nicest people you'll ever meet!

The Reason

He Died.

So You Wouldn't Have To.

It's Up To You.

Happy Easter

Today You Are A (Wo)Man

Oct 19, 1992 my son Tyler was born. My wife, Debbie, had just given birth to her fourth son. No girls. While she loved her boys with all her heart, she ached for a little girl. A little girl to play dolls with, dress in those cute little girl clothes, and to be able to go shopping with and have "girl talk".

Fast forward three years. Debbie is seven months pregnant. For the first time, we don't know if the baby is a boy or a girl. We are both excited.

Dec 6 1995, A baby girl, Cheyanne, was born to us. Debbie had her daughter. On that day, all was right with the world.
Not long after the birth, Debbie noticed bruising on her legs. She was later diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. Debbie died four years later. She never got to enjoy the baby girl that she brought into the world.

Cheyanne has grown into a beautiful, intelligent, girl. She has been blessed to have a mother in her life. My wife, Yvette, has done a remarkable job of being her "mom" all the while not replacing Debbie. They have had heart to heart talks about Debbie and both shed tears over it. I do not know what they have said nor do I need to know. It's theirs.

Cheyanne has always been a "daddy's girl" maybe because of losing her mother so early or maybe because she's my only biological daughter, I don't know. All I know is that she is. That is what surprised me so much yesterday. I received a phone call at 3:15 PM on my cell. I was driving on the freeway when I answered and heard Cheyanne ask me for mom's work number. I replied "you know she can't have calls at work" There was silence on the phone, then I heard my daughter crying. This was not a "I'm not getting what I want" cry, there was something wrong. She said "But she said i could call her!" I asked "Honey, what's wrong?" "I need to talk to mom!" was my answer. I fumbled with my wallet as I said "OK, hold on a second, I need to look for it (Yvette is working a new job and I don't know the # by heart) hold on, OK?" I hurried to find the card as I drove 75 MPH. I read her the number and she told me thank you and that she loved me. I had no idea what was wrong and then, like a lightning bolt I just seemed to know. I had never heard her cry like that, and somehow I knew that my little girl, the one I had snuggle into bed all those nights, the one I had watch "Aristacats" over and over with, the tiny baby that I held in the palm of my hand 12 years ago, had changed. My baby was now a young woman. I thank God that Yvette was there for Cheyanne and comforted her and helped her to understand what these changes were all about.

That night, Cheyanne called both her grandma's and many of her girl-friends to tell them the news. She seems happy about it. (just wait, kiddo!) She asked me if Yvette had told me why Cheyanne had called her. I told her no. She then told me the big news. I smiled and told her I loved her. She went on into the house and I stayed on the driveway for a few minutes and looking up at the sky thought about Debbie. I felt bad that she wasn't here for this event in Cheyannes life. I'm sure I'll feel the same when I have to walk Cheyanne down the aisle some day. I can wait for that day to come, I'm not excited to see it. I know I'll miss Debbie that day, like I did today, but I am very thankful to have Yvette by my side helping me get through my teenage(r's) years!

HEAR-YE, HEAR-YE!!!

LOTS of exciting things happening around the ol homestead this week! I'll be getting to each of them in the next few days, but first things first!
Doctor appt last week, blood pressure is doing fine, NO MORE MEDS.... for that anyway! Now my LDL is high so time to tackle that one.

AND introducing a new blog by my beautiful wifey! Look to the left and click on the link to view it!

Finally, a huge thank you to each of you for your kind words and encouragement from my depression. I was completely shocked and humbled by all the posts and e-mails. Thank you so very much for caring.

Slone