It really isn't about the bike

I did it. My wife and I planned, set the goal, and stuck with it. Thursday of last week I picked up my brand new Indian motorcycle. I am still in a bit of disbelief that this gorgeous bike is sitting in my garage right now. Yet, it is there and it is mine!

Now, here's the back story and meaning that goes well beyond the bike itself.  When I was a boy, about nine or maybe ten years old, I had a step-dad named Johnny Revell. My mom had married this giant of a man and he was the first male in my life besides my brother, who actually gave a shit about me.  Johnny, from day one, took a positive vested interest in my well-being.  He was a stable figure in my life for about three years until his untimely death due to cancer. 

We were living in Casa Grande, Arizona at the time.  Had to of been about 1975-76 given I remember I was only nine or ten years old.  He took me on my first ever motorcycle ride.  He had a Triumph Bonneville 750. I will never forget it and it is why I ride to this very day.  Having the feeling of some fear, but also, complete confidence knowing Johnny would keep me safe is something that I remember well. So, you might think, as I do while writing this, why such an impact with just one motorcycle ride when I was a kid. It wasn't just the ride on the back of his motorcycle.

I remember getting in trouble a time or two and his response to that.  He disciplined me in a way that had meaning. He always followed up any discipline with the "why". Always helping me to learn right from wrong. I remember sitting at the dinner table regularly for family meals.  Johnny was a hard working man who provided for our family.  Really, it was that he cared, truly cared. So, no, it wasn't just the motorcycle ride, it was much more. He was my father.

Johnny was given a cancer diagnosis in his early forties. Within a year, he was gone.  Just as fast as I write those two sentences feels much like how fast he was here and than gone. I was 12-13 when he died. Just transitioning from 7th-8th grade. It ripped my whole world to shreds. Previous to Johnny there were what I termed "dads of the week". Mom, doing the best she knew how at the time, didn't provide us with stability and needed structure. Johnny came along and I connected with him right away. Having him torn from my life was a weight that was nearly to much for me. 

Mom, again, doing the best she knew how with her life at the time, re-married pretty fast after he died.  For me, a pre-teen boy, it made no sense. It was during this time that I threw in the towel in many ways. I began drinking, smoking pot and cigarettes, and began lots of crazy behavior.  I went from being a 4.0 student at the end of the 7th grade to having less than a 1.0 gpa when I dropped out somewhere in the 10th. I simply gave up on my own growth and development as a young man. Any male role mode after this point didn't stand a chance. 

It just so happens. to add to this time period, a sexual predator came into my world and wrapped his craziness around my already crazy world. No one in my circle had really, any idea what was going on in and around me. Much of my family were living there lives in there own way and I am sure they were worried about me to some extent, but, just didn't know how, or. weren't able to reach me.

It wouldn't be until 1996, when I was 29 and had went through many of life's ups and downs that I would get another bike.  Wait, I DID one other bike, it was a late 70's Kawasaki I had for a time period in 88 that was a fun bike!  This was well before I made the decision to significantly change my life course. I remember riding that bike super drunk many times.....I am lucky to be alive. So, to the 1996 time period.  I found a path to recovery from drugs and alcohol and I was staying at my sister Cheri's house.  She had just bought a brand new Honda Shadow.  I loved that bike!  She would let me take it on short rides.   It was then that I said I wanted to get another bike. 

Well, it took a little while, but, in 2003, the stars lined up and I was able to buy that exact bike my sister had.  I LOVED that Shadow. I would, like I do to this day, think of Johnny and taking me on that first fateful ride in my youth. I had a bike of my own now, had shifted my life onto a good track, and felt like I was honoring his memory. I rode the heck out of the bike until 2012.  It was than that I was able to upgrade to a bigger bike.  

I found the bike I wanted in Lynnwood and Katrina, my mom and I went there to pick it up.  It was a fun day.  Katrina and I were just talking about it when we went to get my Indian last week. I bought a 2012 Kawasaki Vulcan 900.  It had 3,000 miles on it and was in mint condition. I was in heaven, and again, Johnny was on my mind. And again, I rode the heck out of that bike!  Great ride that I could take long trips on. The Shadow was a great bike, but just not a long road trip bike.   

And, now here we are in July of 2020 and the Vulcan is getting passed down to my son and I am riding an Indian.  I had decided, when Indians started being made again, that I wanted an Indian.  They are beautiful machines with rich history in the motorcycle world.  In 2015 I set the goal. I had started a doctoral program and Katrina and I agreed.......when I finished by doctorate, if the finances were right and we could do it, I would get my Indian.   

I became Dr. Douglas on March 31st of this year.  Thursday of last week, I picked up the Indian.  Seriously, just typing both of those things, is a bit surreal.  I did them both!

Johnny would be proud. He would be beyond proud. I have his service flag on my book shelf in our home.  With it our his last set of keys that has a caterpillar tractor and car keys on it. Memories from the man who had a massive impact on me at a young age.  I simply say, he gave a shit about me in a positive way,  There were many who came and went when I was young, but, he was one that came for a short period and left the longest impact.

Now, my son will ride.  I will be passing on the Vulcan to Tyler.  We went on our first father son ride yesterday.  I have to say, seeing my son in my mirror while riding was nothing short of amazing. 

It's why I ride.