Is It Worth It?

[Tyler]

I am a member of several forums and have had the distinct pleasure of meeting and riding with a lot of really great people and I am grateful for those experiences. But the longer I ride, the closer the toll of accidents and deaths come. Many of us ask, as well as those who care about us, is it worth it? The risks we take every time we go out on our 2-wheeled machine. It is a question we can only answer for ourselves.

My personal take is that life is risk, whether it’s motorcycling, skiing, skating, dancing, skydiving, whatever. To sit at home in what is perceived as a protective bubble can be as damaging, if not moreso, as engaging in the sports we love. If your heart is not happy, the rest of you will not be as well... we could die of heart disease or cancer or stroke as much as any of the other things. I will ride and take every precaution I can – be it gear or mentoring or lessons or whatever it takes – to arrive home in one piece every time. If it is my time, it will be my time wherever and whenever that will be. But I will not live a life unfulfilled.

The loss of those we care about is a heavy burden that we all carry with us, whether close friends or acquaintances. But to not ride, to not feel the joy of the wind, the sun, the sights, the smells, the sounds, the camraderie... is giving that up worth the risk of not truly living?

A question for each of us to ponder... and the answer that each of us comes up with is right.

 

[Niehart]

Will Roger's said it best.

Niehart

 

[Tyler]

Will Roger's said it best.
Niehart

And which brilliant quote would that be?

 

[Bokerfork]

Check Niehart's signature.

 

[Tyler]

Check Niehart's signature.

Got it. Thanks.

Signed,

Ms. Oblivious

 

[madmike2]

Is It Worth It?

Yes, because the option is slow, boring, isolated death of my spirit and emotions.

After my rather serious "KLR event" in August 2007 I got "The Lecture" from my daughter. I began exploring other options for "entertainment" and many emails went back and forth between my daughter, myself and my sister. In the end my daughter deferred to my sister and mother who both told her that I was going to do "something" and that motorcycling was safer than other adrenalin inspiring diversions from my past. ("Have you ever ridden with your father in a high performance automobile? The motorcycles are safer!")

The friends I've made and the rides and experiences we've shared while motorcycling far outweigh the pain of their loss, rather natural or tragic (and I've experienced both). Riding my motorcycle is therapeutic on many levels. It involves my being mentally and physically. It places me within the scene I'm riding so that my senses are more aware: visual, aural and tactile. The loss of the future memories would make me less a person than I am.

 

[Patriot]

The most fullfilling ministry I have found using my natural gifts is with the PGR...

Just a BIG bonus, it involves my riding my motorcycle to be immersed doing that ministry...

Funny thing, the other Riders on my side and on my six in what we do...

We all say, "I love this job, but I hate this job...Can't walk away from it, though..."

I am fortunate that my family sees how I'm used this way and fully supports my efforts at every turn.

let's ride safe and be careful out there,

Mike in Nawlins'

 

[Checkswrecks]

We said good-bye one of our 20 year old ex-Boy Scouts last weekend. Sorry if I dump, but I've been thinking about it all week, it's late, reading about lgJohn, and now your question fit my thoughts.

As a younger kid our Scout was ALWAYS a handful, interupting all the time. You know the kid you wanted to "shoo" away? We adults asked each other a number of times if it was worth having this distraction around when he was younger. He was a pain and for a while we were always on the edge of dropping him.

He was born blind and needed regular attention because he was "main-streamed." You'd know he was around when you felt his scrawny hand crawl up your leg and go in your pocket, searching for your key ring. He'd check every one and ALWAYS knew when any of us adults had a new key. We had a 75-boy Troop at that point, so that was a lot of adults and he remembered a LOT of keys!!! He associated them with changes in our lives and then would start asking about what new car we got, job change, etc. It was an inquisition. Then this little blind kid would ask if he could drive your car. Always hopeful.

As he got older, he made fun of himself and everybody else. But it was always to the point and he'd be right. NONE of the other boys made fun of him, he was totally accepted. They'd lead him during the day, but what other Scout could always find the campground toilet at night? But he always could cut in and be a pain at the most awkward times. How do you answer "What does a blind kid need to tie knots for?" Gee, because it's part of the program? He graduated high school & his folks could have gotten some busy-work job for him. Instead, they let him move a thousand miles away. He was in his second year of a college course to learn how to live on his own and learn the hotel business. He would talk to anybody, anywhere, anytime and was loving life. The kid blossomed and his future was fantastic.

He was 20 & died in his sleep. There are no answers about why, just like with some of our accidents. Getting to know him, put up with him, and ask myself honest questions about ME because of his never-ending questions? With HIS problems he not only never quit, he as out to meet every person he could in the world. If you're into ham radio on the east coast, you've probably heard of him. Seeing what this blind kid risked in coming out of his shell and living, and then kicking myself in the ass for letting adult stuff get me to set aside being alive? All from seeing how living made this blind kid feel?

Involvement in life? He would've killed for a motorcycle ride and I never thought to offer it. Damn, I'm an idiot.

But Tyler, the pain in the ass little boy who grew up proved it's ALL worthwhile.

RIP Dougie, I miss you kid.

RIP lgJohn

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Yup

 

[Patriot]

We said good-bye one of our 20 year old ex-Boy Scouts last weekend. Sorry if I dump, but I've been thinking about it all week, it's late, reading about lgJohn, and now your question fit my thoughts.
As a younger kid our Scout was ALWAYS a handful, interupting all the time. You know the kid you wanted to "shoo" away? We adults asked each other a number of times if it was worth having this distraction around when he was younger. He was a pain and for a while we were always on the edge of dropping him.

He was born blind and needed regular attention because he was "main-streamed." You'd know he was around when you felt his scrawny hand crawl up your leg and go in your pocket, searching for your key ring. He'd check every one and ALWAYS knew when any of us adults had a new key. We had a 75-boy Troop at that point, so that was a lot of adults and he remembered a LOT of keys!!! He associated them with changes in our lives and then would start asking about what new car we got, job change, etc. It was an inquisition. Then this little blind kid would ask if he could drive your car. Always hopeful.

As he got older, he made fun of himself and everybody else. But it was always to the point and he'd be right. NONE of the other boys made fun of him, he was totally accepted. They'd lead him during the day, but what other Scout could always find the campground toilet at night? But he always could cut in and be a pain at the most awkward times. How do you answer "What does a blind kid need to tie knots for?" Gee, because it's part of the program? He graduated high school & his folks could have gotten some busy-work job for him. Instead, they let him move a thousand miles away. He was in his second year of a college course to learn how to live on his own and learn the hotel business. He would talk to anybody, anywhere, anytime and was loving life. The kid blossomed and his future was fantastic.

He was 20 & died in his sleep. There are no answers about why, just like with some of our accidents. Getting to know him, put up with him, and ask myself honest questions about ME because of his never-ending questions? With HIS problems he not only never quit, he as out to meet every person he could in the world. If you're into ham radio on the east coast, you've probably heard of him. Seeing what this blind kid risked in coming out of his shell and living, and then kicking myself in the ass for letting adult stuff get me to set aside being alive? All from seeing how living made this blind kid feel?

Involvement in life? He would've killed for a motorcycle ride and I never thought to offer it. Damn, I'm an idiot.

But Tyler, the pain in the ass little boy who grew up proved it's ALL worthwhile.

RIP Dougie, I miss you kid.

RIP lgJohn

That is a great, heartfelt post and good for you and your fellow Scout Leaders. Don't kick yourself as we are sent gift ideas to serve others, and sometimes we're not

And not at all to rain on your parade, but a political leader in a small town in Mississippi's son was a challenged kid with an incurable genetic disease which to vast majority don't live to be past puberty. His parents didn't own or ride motorcycles, but had seen the PGR honor a fallen soldier from their town. Local resident's got to love this kid and see him progress pretty much knowing as he got older and more mature, his time was running out. The make a wish folks got hold of his story and asked him if there was something he'd like to do? Trip to Disney World, Water Park, city he'd like to visit, museum??? He said that he'd seen on television and on the street of his town motorcycle riders and he'd like a ride on a motorcycle. Now, understand, this kid was muscle clumsy and on oxygen by this time at 11 years old. The local Patriot Guard in MS got wind of this and contacted his parents. They met and made plans to make this happen. A HOTH (Help On The Homefront) mission was created and the story and needs was broadcast. Brainstorming was initiated to figure out how to safely ride this kid a few blocks on the street and block where he lived. Men more brilliant than me fabricated a BIG car seat like thingy attached to a rack on the passenger seat of a cruiser with a tail rack holding a portable oxygen unit. Someone took measurements of some head gear the kid wore and purchased a helmet...the kid's favorite color was screaming orange like the racers he sees running boats across the water really fast and their orange helmets. So the helmet was ordered in safety orange. Well, to end this story soon, 150 bikes showed up at the local VFW hall on a clear, sunny Saturday morning and they headed over to Johnny's home filling up the street for 2 blocks adjacent to his home. He was brought out and strapped into the seat on the cruiser with his oxygen. Mom and Dad, for the their first time on bikes, were escorted to two Goldwing trikes behind Johnny's ride. Johnny was told to tell the driver when he had enough, if he got scared, and when he wanted the ride to end. Johnny, parents, and everyone rode a loop through piney woods about 25 miles and back down main street USA of the town with cheering as the fever caught and spread throughout the town. It was a marvelous day. Johnny only lasted another 14 months and I look forward to meeting him again when it's my time.

RIP Johnny

RIP Dougie

RIP LgJohn

RIP Mike Bares

Cheers,

Mike in Nawlins'

 

[Capt. Bob]

A theme often repeated at the end of one's life is "He/she died doing what they loved"

I don't want to die doing what I love, just take me after I'm done doing it.

Sometimes it works that way and other times not.

That's life.

 

[old&slow]

I lost a very dear friend in 2003 to a motorcycle / minivan accident....

At his funeral they had pictures of Frank , scuba diving ,, skydiving ,, white water rafting

hang gliding ,, Karate ,, riding a motorcycle ,, etc...

I thought , How could I be sorry ,,,, He lived life......

Everybody Dies ,,, Some people never live .........

After the funeral my daughter ask , If I was going to give up motorcycle riding ??

My answer was ,, Nope....

I hope somebody will say , I lived Life , at my funeral .....

 

[wheatonFJR]

It is very sobering and saddening to hear of the death of a fellow rider.

I have always wanted to travel and see the sights via motorcycle. I love planning trips and I love riding them. Long ago, before the internet, I always rode alone...none of my friends rode...but I was gonna ride so dad gummint I went, and saw, and experienced the highs and lows of motorcycling by myself. Since I got my FJR, and found other FJR riders through Al Gore's interwebs, I have even more fun. I feel like I'm amongst family...people that feel the same way I feel about riding and travelling.

I can't imagine ever giving it up. I did purposely abstain when the kids were smaller and finances could not support it...but I never gave it up.

So, if I happen to be the subject of a RIP thread, don't feel bad for me. I know it's sad...but really...is it any sadder than dying of a heart attack, or cancer, or an auto accident? It's always sad when someone's life ends...but it would be sadder to try and live life "safely" but cooped up in a little "safe world".

We are all going to die sometime, somehow. No choice about that. Your choice is whether you are going to live it with joy or not. I try to ride safely....but...

It IS worth it to me...and quite frankly, not a choice. It is part of me.

 

[happyPuppy]

My philosophy is to live for the day as there is no promise of a tomorrow. I think Jack London's Credo got it right, at least for myself:

I would rather be ashes than dust!

I would rather that my spark should burn out

in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.

I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom

of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

The function of man is to live, not to exist.

I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.

I shall use my time.

 

[Toecutter]

It's gonna (God willing) take a personal close call, and investigative reflection, with the realization that there was nothing I could have done to avoid it, to get me to get off the horse. I'm not suicidal, or of the belief that riding a motorcycle is assured to cause my demise. Yet. If that changes, so will I.

That said, I have recently come off a self-imposed downsizing from forum participation, at least to the level I was involved before events of last summer. Andrew's deal was the first straw, Tim's was the last, for various reasons beyond the obvious. I have stood at that precipice that Andrew chose to leap from, but I turned away with a question that cannot be answered by anybody who's currently living and, without the answer, unable to commit to such a final act. The worst part of that ordeal is that he could have turned to me or any one of dozens of friends who could have possibly helped him to see the same light and choose to live.

I don't think it was just me having similar crises. For whatever reasons, a splinter forum was formed, which mostly just added to the negative emotion I was experiencing.

Good, bad, or otherwise, I think I'm actually getting more accustomed to the inevitable losses that come with our connectivity and passion for riding freely among the caged-in, and from life in general. We'll see how that theory holds up the next time someone close to me passes and, in the meantime, I'll hope it doesn't happen and live each moment in as positive a manner as I can muster....

 

[radman]

Nicely written fireman. Way I see it, we are all destined for the dirt nap, one way or another. I have outlived, for some mysterious reason, many of the people I have known. Surprised the hell outta me, too. Have had many opportunities to join or precede them, just hasn't swung that way yet. Being secure in, and totally acknowledging the fact that I will someday ride with, fight alongside, or race with them again frees my peabrain up to enjoy the time I have left, without worrying about how or when the inevitable will occur. Except, of course, for the Tankers Prayer-"Please God, don't let me burn". Other than that, it's cool. Ever check out space pics? We are just so ******* puny and irrelevant it ain't funny.

 

[Tyler]

I have that one framed and posted up on my wall at work.

I think Jack London's Credo got it right, at least for myself:
I would rather be ashes than dust!

I would rather that my spark should burn out

in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.

I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom

of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

The function of man is to live, not to exist.

I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.

I shall use my time.

 

[TriggerT]

If I worried about all the things that could kill me, I would be dead already.

I have known people who have lived life and are no longer with us. I know people who are still just alive.

Life has a flavor the protected will never know.

 

[fjrb0]

Folks, the husband of one of the ladies I work with died yesterday, heart attack, at home. Andy was about 49 years old. Not a cycle rider, but a lover of life. Just goes to show, when your number is up, it's up. I agree with the idea of living life while you have it, live it full, live it whole, leave nothing on the table when you leave. You won't regret what you did when you're old and feeble, you'll regret what you didn't do.

God bless all the friends we lose too soon.