Ho-ho-ho.... life is good!

Yeah, go for it, man. It's one of my ambitions to ride back out to the west coast and visit family & friends. They are scattered in California, Oregon & Washington. When my bobber is finished, I'll be riding up to Ohio this summer (600 miles each way) to see family I haven't seen in 40 years. When the spirit is willing all you gotta do is whip the flesh in shape!

If you've got family there, it makes it a lot easier to go. Although I have some family in the Bay Area that I haven't seen in many years, they made it clear that I was not welcome there after the last time I rode through for a visit (34 years ago).

I had just got out of the service, and my head was not right yet. I was riding a motorcycle and I guess I pissed em off good with my vision of how the world should be, based on what I just witnessed. Anyway, they were the "haves", and I was a "have not". It's OK though. I never cared what anyone thought of me.

Didn't mean to be a downer. Must be the snow and -10 degrees today.

I understand a little of what you mean by your "new vision". After I got out, I found out right quick that you can go back to where you lived but you'll never be back "home". Regardless of your experience(s), the military changes you forever. Fortunately my family was able to understand or at least tolerate the differences until I could get both prongs back in the same outlet (mostly).

You mention the snow as a downer - yep I'm ready for the 90 degree weather. I heard on the 6A news this morning while I was driving to work that 49 out of 50 states had snow.:gah:

In retrospect, my life was probably a little extreme for conservative adults at the time.

After 5 years in the Corps, I thought I was a responsible adult who had earned a little slack. But they (relatives) thought of me as a problem child who liked to drink and fight and ride motorcycles. OMG!! They couldn't grasp the idea that seeing your friends butchered right in front of you might have an adverse effect on a person's emotional equilibrium.

I spent a whole year after that, riding my Harley around the Western Hemisphere, seeing other cultures up close. That was far more medicinal than any amount of years in therapy and drug treatment would have been. And I learned a lot about other countries lack of human rights and personal freedoms. Life here is still good.

GI Bill paid for my college, and am very thankful. They didn't pay for respiratory problems caused by Agent Orange though, denying it was ever a problem.

Reason I didn't get married right away was because some woman said I had nothing to offer women in a long-term relationship. Guess the motorcycle was a dead giveaway. I took that as good advice for a few years.

There is something to be said for short, meaningless relationships!

yep, and that is good bye, see ya around and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out...

I remember hearing just that a few times, and it bothered me then. But I also remember that my financial status (lack of) was of crucial importance to some of the women that didn't think I could offer them anything for a secure future. Heck, I had a paid-for motorcycle and some new-found skills the govt. paid for, and was anxious to start living the American Dream.

Ironically, one of the women that blew me off still lives in the town where I now live. Every time I see her around, she looks pissed at me even after all these years! Geez!

They have a way of holding grudges don't they??:witsend:

And here I was thinking about becoming high maintenance.


I was gonna put a windshield and front turn signals on my bike. :roflmao:

:roflmao::gah:

Abby, you should at least have turn signals, so the mortals behind you can know where you're going.

I have very nice rear turn signals. They are also running lights and all the rear lights come on real bright when I'm braking. Did that after i got rear-ended. Always use hand signals too. I never got the fronts back on after ape hanger installation at the beginning of the year - about 20k miles ago (been a good year). I'm talking to the guys at Phat Rides about helping me with a prototype. Wicked cool, but I need help with the execution.