Rider’s Dream

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Readers of this blog know that I enjoy riding my motorcycle, though with restrictions imposed by a chronic health condition, I cannot ride for long distances any more. I have to stop often, stretch, pee & poop, eat something, drink fluids… all that takes time. If I don’t do it, I get so sick that I would require medical attention.

No one in my club or any bikers I know want to “ride that slowly” — that is, take so many breaks — so I have not been able to test out the full “touring class” of my Harley. I don’t know if I ever will. I dream of it, such as in this photo taken by a friend on a recent trip sponsored by my club (these are my fellow riders in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina or Tennessee).
But I continue to dream….
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Memories and Tributes

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Today, the date of September 11 (not “9/11”), marks a very dark date in the history of the United States, where cowardly terrorists caused pain, anguish, injuries, and deaths in 2001. I won’t let them win by describing what they did — we all know that. Instead, today, I will pay tribute to the countless thousands of responders, both in professional positions (fire, law enforcement, EMS) and those who jumped in voluntarily to alleviate suffering and help as best they could.

I spent six months after that dreadful day doing my part in providing relief, and that included much time in New York City. It’s one reason why I have no plans ever to return to NYC … too many painful memories which still haunt me today.

But there’s more to this day than memories of those attacks…
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Skilled Riders

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Took some time yesterday to watch some local motor officers do a demonstration of their riding skills, as they prepare for a major competition in two weeks.

Here’s a friend showing what I need to remember to do: look where you want the bike to be, not in front of you or where you’re going. The bike will go where you look.
Here’s another one demonstrating the same skill.
Here’s a view of one of our local motormen relaxing on his bike. Nice dress instep Dehner boots with half-sole and Vibram 100 lug soles.
Here’s a wider view, same cop.More Practice: And my friend finally got new boots — his old boots were beat up badly. Nice Boots, MC!Life is short: respect what trained motor officers do — not only in skilled riding, but in serving us every day.

Being Loved Despite Being Strange

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Frequently, I am one who describes to others that what we see on television or view on the internet about what people do in daily life is often exaggerated or sometimes blatantly false. But one can’t help but feel influenced by what he sees, such as couples going out for a night on the town for dinner and dancing, or guys my age using smartphones, eating lunch “out” every work day, having drinks with “the guys” after work, relaxing with a glass of wine with my partner after a long day, or staying awake at night until 11pm, yet rising to go to the gym early, changing to shirt/tie/dress shoes, then going to work and having coffee along the way — while swiping plastic for almost every transaction.

I recently explained to my sister, “I feel so strange… I don’t do any of that. My partner and I don’t eat out, we don’t have or want a smartphone, we go to bed by 8:30pm seven nights a week, I’m too cheap to pay for a gym membership, and I hate to dress up, dance, or wear shoes. I make our lunches to take to work, I don’t drink coffee or alcohol, I pay cash during our weekly grocery store visits and for most everything else, cook meals at home every day, I don’t send or receive text messages… honestly, I’m weird.”

To that, my sister said…
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Boot Mentorship

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Mentorship is a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person. However, true mentoring is more than just answering occasional questions or providing ad hoc help. It is about an ongoing relationship of learning, dialog, and challenge. The term “mentor” dates back to Greek Mythology but its application continues to this day.

Think about it… we’ve all had mentors in our lives. As we are protégés (students) of someone who has provided guidance, advice, instruction, and support about various aspects of our lives. Parents, teachers, older siblings and family, and supportive friends serve as our mentors.

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of comments on my blog piece about helping my great nephew select his first two pairs of boots. I was equally as disappointed when I asked about boot mentoring on the “Boots on Line” board and got very few responses.

So what is a “boot mentor?” Do guys need one?
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Great Nephew Says: “Boots are Cool!”

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One of my great nephews started high school this year, and before he went to school, he asked me to help him find a pair of boots to wear to school. On our shopping adventure, he ended up getting two pairs of boots — one pair of black Chippewa harness boots and a pair of distressed brown Justin regular cowboy boots.

Is he wearing his boots to school? What does he think about them?
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Need 5-Day Weekends

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I’ve always thought that “they” (you know, the proverbial powers-that-decide-these-things) that weekends and weeks should be reversed. That is, exchange five days off for two, and only work two days instead of five. How’s that?

Man, IF I had five days for a weekend…
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Cousins 2

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Just a quick post to show that not all of my cousins are straight guys who wear flip-flops and shorts to church.

Man, if I were two decades younger, not in a monogamous relationship, and not related, I’d chase this guy. Here he is, participating in an LGBT swimming fundraiser in New York.

Woof! Go cuz, go!

I have to say, though, that I have seen pictures of him on his Facebook page where he is wearing flip-flops while attending a social gathering. So I STILL have work to do on all of my family members, gay or straight! (Remember: boots are preferred footwear; sneakers are okay in a gym, and the only place for flip-flops is in the trash.)

Life is short: love your family.