Why Now?

18 May '04

A couple of months ago I had to ask myself "why now"? Of course, I'm talking about buying a motorcycle. I am 52 years old; husband and father of two (13 and 10); and hadn't ridden a "two-wheeler" (I'm counting the scooter I owed while stationed in Bermuda) in over 12 years; or owned a motorcycle since 1982. Sure, I've been talking to my wife about getting another one for years. She even suggested it when we moved back to Hampton Roads in 1994. But somehow another deployment, another recreational hobby, or more importantly another "better use of money" always came up. It seemed like my riding days were destined to remind part of my nostalgic past. So... why now?

The POP psychology answer would explain that having lost two brothers in the last four???? years (heart attack and suicide), having retired from the Navy, and starting to knock on the door of my "golden years" was causing me to have a mid-life crisis. Yes all of the above were true and had caused me to reflect and ponder on my life. But, given my short attention span (maybe old age is catching up with me) I could never focus long enough to decide on what all of that stuff meant. I had always seen life as sort of a Chinese Menu - take one from column A and one from column B. It has always amazed me that people get bored. My problem has always been that I could never find the time to do all of the things I found interesting. Now don't get me wrong, I'm no dynamo of energy. I like my naps, TV, and floating in the pool just like the next guy. But, the point is I like doing it and other stuff. So being bored has never seemed logical to me. So... if POP psychology wasn't the answer, why now?

For some reason this past winter I found myself noticing more bikes on the streets. While it is true bike sales have increased over the last few years (thanks to baby boomers), there wasn't an abnormal run on bike dealers over the winter. Also the warmer November and December may have encouraged more bikers to venture out, but Hampton Roads has always had wacky weather that can make it hard to believe that Christmas is coming. So if bike envy and 70 degree Decembers weren't the reason...why now?

The simple reason was I missed it. Somewhere buried in my gray matter were memories of riding bikes. These thoughts and feelings are hard to explain to non-bikers (and to some bikers). I could remember what it was like to know I had a bike waiting for me just outside my front door. It could take me wherever I wanted to go. I used it to ride to work (always taking the long way and never taking short cuts). I could remember the long trips where riding with friends was more fun than the destinations. There had been a sense of being more aware of the surroundings and rediscovering the common sites, sounds, and smells (ever driven by Krispy Kreme). Yes the simple answer was I just missed riding bikes.

However, there is one additional fact about ...Why Now? Having gotten pretty good at telling myself "maybe next year" or "after we save a little more" I was still willing to suffer with my sinful bike lust in silence (or at least I thought I was being silent). On my birthday, my wife piled the kids and me into the van (yes - minivan) to go for some ice cream. On the way she made an unexpected stop. Pulling into a local bike shop, she and kids told me "Happy Birthday" and that I could pick out my own birthday present. Not willing to accept my "Responsible Adult" excuses anymore, she told me I had waited long enough and that it was time to enjoy life.

I wasn't just jealous of those other bikers or going through the male "change of life". The reason I wanted and got a bike was very simple:
1. I could remember (and wanted to experience again) the feeling of adventure that I had gotten from simply riding bikes.
2. I was being rewarded for doing the things that thousands (really millions) of men and women do daily as part of their commitment to their families.

I wasn't going through a "mid-life crisis". I was moving past my "Early-life Crisis Management Style". Why get a motorcycle now? Simply put, I wanted one and my wife wanted to say "I love you" in a way that would be special for me. What more could a short, chubby, gray haired boy want on his birthday?

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