WAVE!

Every time I get on my motorcycle I remember one major event in my joining the biker community. You see, I have wanted a motorcycle for decades. I was raised by my mother in a single parent home, and she wasn’t about to let her son do anything dangerous like ride a motorcycle, have a pellet gun, etc. So, I would watch these guys ride by (it was rare, but I was always fascinated), and I would imagine what it would be like to have my own.

Then I went to Germany, and the rules in Germany are simple: If you do not have a US motorcycle license, you are not getting a US Army Europe motorcycle license. *Sigh*

So I waited.

Then I went to recruiting school and became a (YEECCCCCCCHHHHHHHH) recruiter. As you can tell I hated it. I didn’t have the time to get my license and a bike.

So I waited.

Then, back to Germany.

And I waited some more.

Finally to Oklahoma. So, after the divorce dust had settled and I had my finances somewhat straight, I went looking. I found her, too. My pretty little pre-owned (read that as ‘used’) Vulcan 750. Not too big for a first bike, but not so small that I wanted to upgrade immediately, either. I figure that I will keep her until I can’t rebuild/repair her any more.

I don’t really remember swinging my leg over that first time, nor do I really remember rolling down the road. It was that first “Biker’s wave” that got me. I was a part of a community. A group that makes no distinction other than either you ride or you don’t.

I have noticed that most drivers don’t wave at other drivers because of what they drive, but bikers will wave just because I am riding. To most it doesn’t matter what I am riding, only that I am riding.

I don’t know if I can really explain why it meant so much to me. I am certain that I don’t know all of it, myself. What I do know is that I continue to enjoy the waves and the sense of community in a ‘hobby’ that is normally done alone, even when in a group.

SteelCowboy can tell his feelings on this, but I have to say that I love the feeling of acceptance. I also love that there are no expectations. You see, all that my ‘biker’ buddies want from me is for me to be myself and to help them if they need it. Simple, right? What everyone does for a friend. I have found it truly liberating to not have any expectations hanging over my head.

And it all started with a little wave…

Carlo