In Other Words with Dave

Well I missed most of this year’s riding season. I just wasn’t feeling up to it. I got in a few rides over to Pops, but mostly the motorcycle I always wanted sat idle in the garage.

My preoccupation with motorcycles started with a trip to Europe when I was a kid. I was fascinated with all the scooters, motorbikes and mopeds zipping around villages – over there it was a way of life. I wanted one and finally in college, I got one, and another one, and then another one. Years later, when it was time for raising kids – I put on the brakes, only for my interest to come back faster and fancier. When the kids moved out, the Ducatis moved in.

For me, it’s not about ownership, it’s about the experience I get when I slip on my helmet and flip down the visor. Everything else goes away. I’m not thinking about work, cancer or home improvement projects I need to get to. But sadly, because of my treatments I just wasn’t up for the experience this past season. Frankly, I was thinking this might be the end of a long relationship. I’ve been feeling the urge to sell.

I’ve been through this before. Back when I was diagnosed, it didn’t look so good for me, so I sold the motorcycle I always wanted. But after a couple of stem-cell transplants and some chemo wizardry, I got to feeling better and started to second-guess the sale. So I searched, found and re-bought the same motorcycle I always wanted for a second time. Same year. Same make. Same model.

I need to get through the next year of treatments, pause on my present thoughts of selling and just let the bike sit in the garage. If I can do that, I can avoid buying the motorcycle I always wanted – for a third time. Although it would make for a good story.