Spring Ride

John and I took a ride on my new bike. Was supposed to be a ride around the block, but we ended up a couple counties over at a town park. Of the new bike, he said it was 'awesome, roomier and more comfortable.' For me, having a bigger, more capable bike . . . One capable of accommodating a nearly adult size passenger . . . Was part of my buying decision.

Emmalee's Art

Emmalee's drawing of "Dad and Emmalee riding Dad's motorcycle"

Happy Anniversary

Call me crazy, call me a fool who's parted ways with his money. I don't care, I knew what my wife wanted and I bought it for her.

I bought her a new Harley this week.



Tuesday night I told her I had to work late. Instead, I stopped by the Harley Dealer on 96th street after work, and browsed bikes. I'd seen a used Dyna Low Rider on their website that drew me in. As it turns out, I got a better deal on the new than I could have gotten on the used bike.

I signed all the paperwork on Tuesday night, and came back to pick the bike up after work on Wednesday.

Last night, while she and the kids were at a church meeting, I rode the bike home and parked it in the garage. I unplugged the garage door opener (like I do in the winter so nobody accidentally lets the heat out of the garage) -- so she'd have to walk in through the front door.

When she got home, I handed her a card and gift. The gift was about the size of a ring box. The card was an anniversary card -- it's our 20th anniversary this year.

She opened the box, expecting a ring. Instead, it was a key to the bike.

She looked at it with a puzzled expression, not recognizing it. The new Harley keys look like the key to a vending machine.

I said, "Read the words on the key."

Inscribed on the key were the words, "Harley Davidson".

She ran to the garage and screamed. I thought she might faint. Her knees buckled. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

I had completely surprised her. This is something she's wanted since she was a little girl riding behind her dad on his 1978 Harley FLH Ultra Glide.

I bought her a 2009 Dyna Super Glide.



She's still in shock.



She hasn't ridden it yet.



I'll have to peel her off the ceiling to get her to ride it.

Summer tradition?

A motorcycle ride, first to church, then to the park in Fortville

Happy Father's Day

Another John illustration ... for Father's Day. The motorcycle is wonderfully detailed ... and yes, it is launching vertically. It hit the ramp and is now flying straight up.

I love the rider, tongue out, helmet flying off.



This picture has what seems to be a signature of John's illustrations, the bird flying overhead, surveying the scene, wondering what is going on.


And there's a wonderful expression on this dude's face. The thought balloon requires some explanation.



The story goes, I bought an after-market seat for my motorcycle, because the stock seat hurt my back. I was looking for something with low back support.

When I bought the new seat, Carolyn asked, "Does it give you the low back support that you were looking for?"

I said, "It does. Well, really, it's more 'upper butt support' than 'low back support'..."

The kids, hearing this conversation, laughed aloud. Whenever we talk about motorcycles, motorcycle seats, riding motorcycles with a passenger, riding motorcycles with luggage, riding motorcycles long distances .. whenever that stuff comes up ... we invariably get a laugh about "Upper Butt Support".

John worked that into his illustration.



He was drawing the motorcycle, and Carolyn noticed he was drawing a Harley-Davidson logo on the tank. She gently suggested, "You know, Daddy actually probably prefers Hondas to Harleys..."

John gave it some serious thought, and said, "No, I want to draw what I want to draw."

Carolyn said, "Okay."

Gotta love that independent spirit. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Weekend Getaway

Our bikes are loaded and ready for our weekend getaway.

John's Dirt Bike

John got a dirt bike.

Dirtbike Class

Pictures of John at Dirt Bike School in June

First Dirtbike Ride

John and Emmalee got to ride dirtbikes at the motorcycle expo's dirt bike test track.





Emmalee geared up and ready to ride.

Emmalee laps another kid on the outside lane.

John gets some last minute instructions and gets psyched up for his ride.

Though the helmet hides his expression from this vantage point, whenever we caught a glimpse of his face through the mask he was grinning ear to ear.

Detailing Dad's Bike

Emmalee wanted to help me detail my bike. There was still road salt on the bike from being trailered from Detroit during a snowstorm when I bought the bike a week prior. My kids bought me a can of Honda Motorcycle Polish for Valentine's Day. Emmalee was thrilled to be able to use it with her Daddy.