Den of the Beastly Bear
Hi Folks!
It's that time of year again! The time of year thousands go out to their garage, throw up the door, pull off the cover....and fire up that motorcycle for a ride!!!
Likely you've seen them out already.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be careful when driving, take an extra second...that's all it takes...to make sure there are no motorcyclists coming before you pull out!!!
I haven't ridden in a few years but I have MANY family and friends that do, and I want them home safe and sound at the end of the day!
I got a call on my cell phone Saturday about 5 o'clock from my Boss, Bill.
Now Bill NEVER calls me at home...I was intrigued.
"Hey Bill, what's up?"
"Joe? Joe?!? This is Bill..." Good God, he sounded drunk.
"Yeah Bill, I'm here...what's new?"
"Awww shit...*unintelligible muttering* awww man I'm hurting!"
"What happened? Are you OK? Where you at?"
I asked, worried now.
"Inna hospital...wrecked my bike...oh God...I'm probably not gonna be in for a couple months, hurtin' bad!!! If I sound funny, I'm onna lotta of morfin, morphine..."
*background noise, lots of talking*
"Let me call you back *more mumbling* OK?"
"Yeah Bill, let me know what's going on, OK?...bye"
Poor Bill, last year I helped him in his search for a new bike. Tired of the bike he had, he needed a new baby! Lol
He was picky, he knew exactly what he wanted...year, model color, engine size.
He was picky, he knew exactly what he wanted...year, model color, engine size.
We found and discarded dozens that we're almost perfect, but not quite.
Finally by September he'd found it, made an offer, and one of his buddies took him to go get it. He was over the moon when he rode it in to work the next day, and we were all envious as it was just beautiful.
The only bummer was the season was almost over, but he put as many miles as he could on it in the time left.
This year he was eager to get it out....
He took his bonus check, and spent around $1700 on custom painted parts, and chrome. Just Thursday his special order gel seat arrived and he installed it before coming into work.
When I asked him of his plans for the long holiday weekend, he told me he was going to his sisters for Easter...then with a wistful look in his eye said:
"Other than that, if the weather cooperates...I'm gonna ride!"
I didn't hear from Bill again until almost 10 that night.
He was still in a lot of pain, 5 broken ribs and a broken collar bone and some "road rash". Seems he was on his way home, had just turned left onto a major thoroughfare when a wrecker waiting on the first side street on the right pulled out, making a left turn right in front of him. With a wrecker broadside, blocking the road...there was nowhere to go!
Luckily he was only going about 35mph. He says witnesses tell him he hit the back of the wrecker, but he has no memory of that...he was only about 30-40 feet from him when the guy pulled out, he remembers hitting the brakes and the bike going out from under him.
He had not been wearing a helmet lately, as it just became legal to go without in Michigan...luckily he had it on Saturday! He doesn't think he lost consciousness or hit his head, but when they took his helmet off it was in two pieces!
He said himself, had he not been wearing that helmet, he may not have made it...
His bike was totaled, and I think he's sicker about that than that he's hurt!
So because of a moments inattention by the wrecker driver, instead of Easter dinner with his family he spent Easter in a hospital bed on a morphine drip!
A better outcome than the morgue, but still...
Who among us would want that on our conscience?
So please folks, as you go about your day...going to work, running errands...take an extra moment to look,
REALLY look before you pull out! Or change lanes, or make that left hand turn.
You just may save a life, and that makes you a hero!
Be Well Folks!
Beastly Bear
He said himself, had he not been wearing that helmet, he may not have made it...
His bike was totaled, and I think he's sicker about that than that he's hurt!
So because of a moments inattention by the wrecker driver, instead of Easter dinner with his family he spent Easter in a hospital bed on a morphine drip!
A better outcome than the morgue, but still...
Who among us would want that on our conscience?
So please folks, as you go about your day...going to work, running errands...take an extra moment to look,
REALLY look before you pull out! Or change lanes, or make that left hand turn.
You just may save a life, and that makes you a hero!
Be Well Folks!
Beastly Bear