11,031 - Riding with Twowheelnut

[dcarver]

So, Christmas 2013, and my post count creeps up to the magical 11,031 mark that was Tim's last post.

It reminds me of what I already know-

There is always a 'last time'.

And as we age, our personal 'last times' draw nigh, the fences draw tighter, our world grows smaller.

Last times are random, without pattern, mostly unknown.

Some are chronic, eroding slowly over time.

Some are acute, that precise moment in time when all changes.

The last time to see your son before being killed, heroically, in war. Axeman.

The last time you see the love of your life walk away. OrangevaleFJR.

The last time you can ride your motobike. Uncle Dutch.

The last time your mind processes a cognitive thought. My Mom.

The last time your heart beats and the last time you take a breath.

I never thought the last time I would ride with Tim would be at NAFO, in Golden, CO.

I barely thought to say 'have a great ride to Alaska, Tim'.

The last time.

The last time is why we (I) need to seize every precious moment of life and squeeze the living **** out of it for maximum enjoyment, appreciation, and love of life and then share it as much as possible.

So then, why all this mushy **** about a guy named Tim?

Well, he was just a nice guy.

Unassuming.

Generous.

A good human.

I like good humans.

Strive to be a good human.

Timster, hope the rides in Heaven are great bud!

..have you given Andrew (OrangevaleFJR) a good old-fashioned JimmieKick yet?

11,031.

We all have our 'Last Times'.

Maximize your 'Now Times' while you can - Your 'Last Time' draws nigh.

..you just don't know it.

RIP Tim Bates.

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/default/****.gif

Hugs n' Kisses

Now then, I'm riding to work tomorrow, and I'm taking the long way in, which means it will be a 2 hour ride filled with curves, high and low speed corners, and deer infested tree lines. That's the way I decide to live and ride.

How about you?

 

[FJRay]

Good stuff Don. We are only here for a visit and nobody knows what's next so live each day like it's the last one.

 

[101stpathfinder]

Don,

This post was one of the best postings ever. I never met Tim, yet I have seen the affection others have when remembering him. He must have been an outstanding person.

The message you send out is one to ponder for sure. New Years Eve has always been my time to reflect back and look forward. I have met some pretty cool people on this forum

and hopefully I will meet many more. I hope to bump into you in Cali. next year.

I am off on a FJR project tomorrow ... For I too have been trying to chase down JamesK to 200k

 

[Chuck35]

Great tribute Don.

The best we can hope for is to be so fondly remembered, cause then we won't ever be gone.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

That was Excellent Stuff. I hope when I am gone that I have at least one friend who mourns my passing the way you mourn for Tim.

I fear you sound too melancholy for a Christmas Day my friend. Do not look bleakly into a future without your friend, look hopefully into a future where you can set the same example he set. You already have all the tools you need to be one of the most admired and respected members of this forum. If some of that is because of what you learned from Tim, that is even better.

That saying about birds of a feather flocking together is quite true. Good people surround themselves with other good people. It is the way of things. You were his friend because you had so much in common, more than just a love of motorcycles.

Please cheer up. A man as good as you are deserves to be happier on Christmas.

 

[Tyler]

You know that I agree with it all, DC... wishing you a safe journey tomorrow on your way to work... I am very glad to have had the pleasure of meeting you and Ms. DC too... I plan to share a few more life moments with you both before we're all done... but if for some reason we don't, it's been an amazing adventure and very glad you've been a part of it. B)

 

[doug5551]

Very moving post, Don.

The last time I saw Tim was in April 08 at the LowCal 250 rally that he had to sit out, with his illness.

The flip side to last times, is first times.

I had so many great first times at the TWN memorial.

It would be the first time I would ride with TCFJR.....whom I would end up riding 5,000 miles together with on our 5 seasons saddle sore rides.

It would be the first time I would have lunch with Kaitsdad, but fortunately not the last time.

It would be the first time I would drink out of Ignacios flask.

It would be the first time I would see SkooterG, but I would not get to know him till later.

It would be the first time I would meet Joe and hear tales of their trip to Alaska.

It would be the first time I would see Wolfhound/FJRobert ride his FJR next to me, while on my 2000 Honda VFR800 and pop a wheelie. I would months later adopt his FJR and I have taken it 90K miles since then, including to all 48 states in 11 days during the 11 Iron Butt Rally.

I have been filled with thoughts about the paradox of sadness for the loss of Tim and joy for all that has come to my life that first started at his memorial ride.

For those who missed the memorial, and for those who want to reminesce about a great event that would end up bringing so much to what would become my life, here is a link:https://www.goraiders.org/bike/0809TWNmemorial/1.html

 

[Tyler]

Silver linings...

 

[RadioHowie]

God Bless you, Don.

Though I never met Tim, our too-short time as "friends" on the forum will never be forgotten -- or unappreciated....much like my "friendship" with you.

 

[Surly]

Bless you Don, good friends make the ride that much more enjoyable glad that you got to ride with Tim, wish I had the chance.

Best regards

Steve

 

[gregory]

Raising my glass (coffee at the moment) to Don's heartfelt post. It has been an absolute pleasure meeting you and many others on this forum. I have found nothing but the finest kind here.

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

Absolutely beautiful.

Yesterday (Christmas Day), I spent a little time with some relatives. On the way home, we stopped at the hospice where a friend of 40+ years is staying. He's only 54, and there he lay, unresponsive, jaundiced, with gray, sunken cheeks, and a feeding tube sticking out of his stomach, that they will remove today. I kept waiting and wanting for him to open his eyes and lay a smart-*** comment on me, but he didn't. Mayo Clinic here in Rochester hasn't been able to figure out what's wrong with him. They say it's probably a virus in his brain, but they are just guessing. He's a non-rider, but a fantastic friend, brother, father, and uncle to his relatives. I don't have to tell you, but it crushes me to see him like that. It reminds me of my dad, when he was dying from cancer at 57 years old.

Sorry to bring up depressing stuff, but my point would be to agree with those earlier comments. Live well today. Enjoy the day. Call a good friend or relative. Be nice to your neighbors. We know not what tomorrow brings.

Ride on, Tim!

 

[James Burleigh]

Amen, and amen.

 

[rogdeb]

Amen, and amen.

Oh Yeah !

A good thread you started Don

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

Absolutely beautiful.
Yesterday (Christmas Day), I spent a little time with some relatives. On the way home, we stopped at the hospice where a friend of 40+ years is staying. He's only 54, and there he lay, unresponsive, jaundiced, with gray, sunken cheeks, and a feeding tube sticking out of his stomach, that they will remove today. I kept waiting and wanting for him to open his eyes and lay a smart-*** comment on me, but he didn't. Mayo Clinic here in Rochester hasn't been able to figure out what's wrong with him. They say it's probably a virus in his brain, but they are just guessing. He's a non-rider, but a fantastic friend, brother, father, and uncle to his relatives. I don't have to tell you, but it crushes me to see him like that. It reminds me of my dad, when he was dying from cancer at 57 years old.

Sorry to bring up depressing stuff, but my point would be to agree with those earlier comments. Live well today. Enjoy the day. Call a good friend or relative. Be nice to your neighbors. We know not what tomorrow brings.

Ride on, Tim!

My friend passed away this afternoon at about 3:30 CST, about 3 or 4 hours after my original post.

So, if you are in a geographical location where you can ride this time of year, go do it. Enjoy today, enjoy your family and friends, and keep on rocking! Keep TWN's spirit alive!

 

[HotRodZilla]

I'll never forget not going to dinner with my dad. Right after Thanksgiving 2010, my brother took a 2 week trip to Mexico City to see family. He was getting home on Sunday night and needed to be picked up. His flight was delayed, so it ended up being almost midnight.

My dad called and was insistent about going with me. Patch and I were both stupid enough to be annoyed initially, but we knew he was just being our dad. We didn't know he was sick. He never said **** about how bad he felt and how short of breath he was. I don't think my mom even knew.

So, I picked up Patch and our dad followed us to my house, where Patch's Toyota had been parked. Patch got unloaded and our dad said he wanted to go to IHOP for some food. Patch went, but I was starting a new unit in the morning and had to be in at 0700 so I didn't go.

My dad went into the hospital not long after that and died January 9th. I don't know why I didn't go with them. All it would have cost me was a little sleep. We were pals and would eat together all the time. I guess I just figured I'd go next time...But that never came. I wish he would have told me what was going on, but he was too tough for that. He thought he was just sick and would be better soon.

These last few years I have lost friends who were here one day and gone the next... Never knowing our last conversation would truly be the last things we ever said to each other.

Make your time here count. Do the things you want to do, and make sure the people you love know you love them. Now, when my mom, sister, or brother mention seeing each other, I go out of my way to make it happen. We just never know.

I'm sorry I never met TWN in person, but I'm very thankful I can call many of you my friends.

 

[dcarver]

Thank you all for the nice posts and genuine concern.

For the record, I'm fine, and to all that know me know I'm a very optimistic yet realist person.

My ride today, both ways, was outstanding.

It started out with a skunk on the dirt road...

who did NOT want to get passed.

Whew!

Anyday you can get past a skunk and not get sprayed is truly a great day.

It ended with a magical night ride on some of the best backroads in the state of Kali.

Yeah, I'm tired, but it feels really good.

 

[HotRodZilla]

You're another one of my favorites Carver. I had a blast with you at Ray's!! You're a genuine guy, and I think you'd be good backup in a bar fight!

Can't wait to get the 2014 riding season under way and spend time with a few of you telling lies and stories, while holding a good drink. Even if it's just a Diet Coke!!

 

[RadioHowie]

I think you'd be good backup in a bar fight!
..... holding a good drink.

That's about what good DC would be in a bar fight, AJ.

NEVER forget the level and quality of a "friend"....

A "friend" will hold your drink during a bar fight...

A "good friend" will bail you out of jail...

A "BEST friend" will help you bury a body!