Topic: Just what kind of legacy are you going to leave behind?

[ElCheapo]

With the stupid live to ride - ride to die site thread it got me thinking about my own mortality and just what kind of legacy I will leave behind while I am busy maching a vented 500/550 rotor for sale on eBay and getting other things in order this morning. What would people say of me? Would they have decent things to say? Or would they go riddens ya dumb son of ####!


I took a break to go get some smokes (which will kill me) and decided to ride Home Wrecker (just might kill me one day) over to the store. Geared up and pulled into the lot and there was this little guy in the back seat of SUV with the window down. He was all smiles and waving at me. His mom was in the front seat doing something and his sister who was not interested was next to him. He waited for me to shut it off and said "Nice motorcycle, mister". I said "thanks" and smiled and this got me to thinking as walked to get my smokes and get back on the bike and only disappear from this little guys memory for good. When I came out mom was still busy and he was still gawking at the bike. I talked to mom for a second, asked if they had a camera. No camera, so I said "hold on just one minute and we will make his day." I went in and bought a disposable camera and went back out to the bike. With moms approval I had this little guy sitting on Home Wrecker while I made sure he stayed up there and mom took pictures of us.

Afterwards he got back into his car seat without a fuss which mom says he never does and was happy as could be. I hopped back on the bike, slipped on my helmet and he gave me 2 thumbs up with a big smile. I returned the thumbs up and rode off. Now this little guy has memories that may inspire him one day, but best yet he had pictures and not just memories.

Sometimes when we are on our bikes we forget the power to influence that we have. I'll never forget it now..............

[GroovieGhoulie]

I've dealt with these thoughts recently because my uncle was killed and my dad nearly so about 8 months ago.  I've decided that it's about people and memories.  You nailed it Cheapo.

You can have all the toys and all the money, but in the end, those toys don't remember you.  They don't love you.  People do.  Families do.

I figure, be the best man you can, find a good woman and raise good kids.  Provide them with good memories and good times.  Don't be an #$%* and just be groovy to each other.

I forget where I read it, but someone said that grieving is people's own greed for the people who are gone.  We want them around so badly, that it hurts us that they are gone.  That puts it in perspective for me.  I am sad my uncle is gone, but he was a wonderful man who left us with great memories and is in a better place.

[ElCheapo]

I forget where I read it, but someone said that grieving is people's own greed for the people who are gone.  We want them around so badly, that it hurts us that they are gone.  That puts it in perspective for me.  I am sad my uncle is gone, but he was a wonderful man who left us with great memories and is in a better place.

That was me, maybe I am getting all Zen now LOL

[Chris Schneiter]

That's awesome cheapo...
About 3 years ago, I took first aid classes and joined the National Ski Patrol...when I first started, I wanted first aid, and free skiing wasn't a bad thing either..but I think one of my favorite things is to sit with the people and talk after we get them stabilized and ready for pickup...the adults always feel stupid, the kids are scared, and teens are scared but feel stupid...it really helps them relax and not hurt so much.
The best was the time I was riding my CB and looked over and saw a crowd of people around a guy who had hit a sign with the back of his head and was bleading all over the place. I was actually prepared and helped him until the ambulance got there.
I think we reach a point as we get older, where all of a sudden, we couldn't give a bunnies butt about popularity, or clothes, or the newest bike, or cars or anything...any more, I just want reality, and to mean something.

[Jeff]

just be groovy to each other.

Now that is a great line.
Jeff

[nickjtc]

there was this little guy in the back seat of SUV with the window down. He was all smiles and waving at me. His mom was in the front seat doing something and his sister who was not interested was next to him. He waited for me to shut it off and said "Nice motorcycle, mister". I said "thanks" and smiled and this got me to thinking as walked to get my smokes and get back on the bike and only disappear from this little guys memory for good. When I came out mom was still busy and he was still gawking at the bike. I talked to mom for a second, asked if they had a camera. No camera, so I said "hold on just one minute and we will make his day." I went in and bought a disposable camera and went back out to the bike. With moms approval I had this little guy sitting on Home Wrecker while I made sure he stayed up there and mom took pictures of us.

Afterwards he got back into his car seat without a fuss which mom says he never does and was happy as could be. I hopped back on the bike, slipped on my helmet and he gave me 2 thumbs up with a big smile. I returned the thumbs up and rode off. Now this little guy has memories that may inspire him one day, but best yet he had pictures and not just memories.

Sometimes when we are on our bikes we forget the power to influence that we have. I'll never forget it now..............

Sniff, sniff. Brought a tear to me eye. What a great story; and good for you to think of the camera!!

[ElCheapo]

just be groovy to each other.

Now that is a great line.
Jeff

Damn right it is.

I saw some guy on some "other than" Harley V-twin bike on night broke down at the park and ride that I trailered Home Wrecker to because of a #$%*ty rear bearing. Wanted to show just did not want the risk. Just be groovy and lend him the use of my mostly dead cell phone. Will have to add charge cell before leaving to check list.  Now that I think of how bike night went I should have just hauled the guy the 4 miles home so he could get one of his other bikes. Next time I will............

there was this little guy in the back seat of SUV with the window down. He was all smiles and waving at me. His mom was in the front seat doing something and his sister who was not interested was next to him. He waited for me to shut it off and said "Nice motorcycle, mister". I said "thanks" and smiled and this got me to thinking as walked to get my smokes and get back on the bike and only disappear from this little guys memory for good. When I came out mom was still busy and he was still gawking at the bike. I talked to mom for a second, asked if they had a camera. No camera, so I said "hold on just one minute and we will make his day." I went in and bought a disposable camera and went back out to the bike. With moms approval I had this little guy sitting on Home Wrecker while I made sure he stayed up there and mom took pictures of us.

Afterwards he got back into his car seat without a fuss which mom says he never does and was happy as could be. I hopped back on the bike, slipped on my helmet and he gave me 2 thumbs up with a big smile. I returned the thumbs up and rode off. Now this little guy has memories that may inspire him one day, but best yet he had pictures and not just memories.

Sometimes when we are on our bikes we forget the power to influence that we have. I'll never forget it now..............

Sniff, sniff. Brought a tear to me eye. What a great story; and good for you to think of the camera!!

I was thinking and said what would be cooler to me as a youngster than to have to some guy let me sit on his bike and take pictures. Sure would have made my day back in the day. Let him feel cool for a moment, and let him think of mom as cool for making it happen. 

Bet he has dreams of Hondas dancing in his head tonight 

[ProTeal55]

What will I leave behind after I die ?

Debt...

[cafehonda]

Just be excellent, always. It's a little dumb ( quoting "Bill and Ted's Excellent  Adventure") but it has always worked for me. Do the right thing because it's right, not because it makes you feel good or karma or Jesus or any of that. A good deed, done with the idea that it will pay dividends, is really not all that good. Just be excellent, always.

[putnaja1]

What will I leave behind after I die ?

Debt...

And hot women in your avatars!  I say we pool some money together, and see if that model friend of yours from sucker punch sallys will do a little nude photo shoot on top of a SOHC 4 Honda, so we can make a t-Shirt outta it?!  That will be some legacy right there buddy!     The nude, hot Honda librarian looking chick t-shirt!  Great potential!

[GoatBaSS]

El Cheapo you will be thought of fondly if for this thread if nothing else.  
My wife told me that my funeral will be one of those times when a great deal of people will show up, meaning that i am a good egg. Shame really, I would like to see all of them now.
You sometimes have to pay it forward and hope your action(s) will translate to someone else.
I think that kid will notice every motorcycle within a ten mile radius for the rest of his natural life. And that makes all of us a little safer, knowing that one more person will be aware and share the road.
And at supper tonight there will be a conversation that starts"... a very nice thing happened today.." and descriptions, with enthusiasm will ensue.
Great moments are what everyone yearns for, but alas they are rare moments. Cheers for that memory.
You did make your world a better place. Cant  wait to see what we do tomorrow.  

[ElCheapo]

It appears that I will get to see first hand just what legacy my grandfather leaves behind, if his health continues like it is. He said two months ago when my grandmother died, he was happy to give up and go home. And right now he is in the hospital with some sort of stroke.

Does not make it better, but when you need your dance partner - you do. I am not happy with it, but it is his choice. I will keep you guys posted, we have just barely recovered from the last trip to AZ.

[bill440cars]

       Being an inspiration to others is definitely a good thing. After putting in 23 yrs in a Civil Service Job in Maintenance, 28yrs total military (Active Air Force & Army Reserves) and 2 yrs in a GMC Parts Room, I decide to listen to my wife and get a job at Bost Human Developement (working with folks with Handicaps and also Special Needs) I've been doing this job for a little over 7 yrs and my wife has been doing the same thing for about 8yrs. Working with these folks has taught me quite a bit and you'd be surprised just how easily you can communicate with them. Now that I've told you that part, let me tell you that my 28 yr old daughter has people who do things with her in the same way. She's not as bad as some of the others. At the age of about 11 months, she started having seizures and this continued until the age of 18, when she had brain surgery (they removed the left temporal lobe). She hasn't had any more seizures since then but, she also has anxiety problems and, in some areas, she's mentally between 12 and 15 yrs old. In some ways, she's actually smarter than some. What I'm getting at is that if you can help anyone, you should do it and treat them as you would want a member of your family treated     
                                                       Later on, Bill

[ElCheapo]

What will I leave behind after I die ?

Debt...

And that cool bike which is willed to ElCheapo  No junkie you can not borrow it to launch tennis balls 

[GoatBaSS]

You are that legacy.

[johnny-from-bel]

I will leave hehind.

A few recordings of me playing Bass trombone.
A few pieces of music I wrote and hopefuly someone will still play when I am gone.
A few articles I wrote for a popular scientific magazine and hopefuly have inspired a few kids to make something of it.
A few inventions nobody cares about
A daughter who will, I hope, have a good life thanks to the headstart I gave her.

A lot of junk.

[bill440cars]

I will leave hehind.

A few recordings of me playing Bass trombone.
A few pieces of music I wrote and hopefuly someone will still play when I am gone.
A few articles I wrote for a popular scientific magazine and hopefuly have inspired a few kids to make something of it.
A few inventions nobody cares about
A daughter who will, I hope, have a good life thanks to the headstart I gave her.

A lot of junk.

                                                That's cool.

                                                  Later on, Bill

[JP]

Damn you patnaja1 !  You beat me to it, I was going to mention the chick in Proteals avatar!  Who is she, Wow!

Anyways, I think it is cool what you did.  At first, I was thinking of my son and if he came home and told me what you did, and my reaction to it.  I'd say, "well, son, we've got about a million of these pictures with you on my bikes- this guy probably just wanted to look cool to your mom."

But then I thought some more, and agreed that it would be cool no matter what for the kid.  Very few kids now a days get the attention they need from their fathers, and something like this would make a father step up his game a little to being a DAD so that he can be his son's hero and not some stranger at a gas station.

Anyways, was the mom hot?  And would you have done it if she wasn't?  That's what seperates a good deed from a selfish act.  We are all guilty of it from time to time.  While driving through a wal-mart parking lot, do you go out of your way to let the ugly chicks walk in front of your car as well as the hot ones?

I see it all the time, and yes, I am bragging on my wife because it makes me feel like a real champ knowing what I've bagged
Lot's of times, I walk at a distance from her while shopping just so that I can laugh at the bloke's that come up to her and ask stupid stuff like, "do you know where the rice pilaff is?" 

Seriously, knumb nuts- just ask a stock boy or something.  They wouldn't be asking a fat chick.  Nor would they take time out to take a picture with a fat chicks son......usually.

JP

[JP]

Sorry, I didn't mean to downplay your good deed, Cheapo.  I think what you've done is great.  I just have a little different perspective I guess.  When my wife goes over to her sister's apt. to swim in the pool and have a few drinks, my kid's get soooo much attention.  People pay my kids more attention than thier own sometimes.  Partially because my kids are cool, but mostly I think to steal some looks at Jen. 

I'm not at all a jealous guy because I know and trust my wife completely, and of course- I've got it like that - but sometimes it's really lame.

Sorry again, way off topic.  Just trying to explain my cinical attitude.

JP

[ElCheapo]

The truth is I could not pick out mom at any distance, however I could pick out the little boy at 100 yards. I can't even tell you what color her hair was and dont care.

[JP]

cool.

JP

[bill440cars]

The truth is I could not pick out mom at any distance, however I could pick out the little boy at 100 yards. I can't even tell you what color her hair was and dont care.

          That's cool Tom, some guys wouldn't be able to tell you if the kid was a boy or a girl.

                                                           Later on, Bill

[ElCheapo]

I have found out that my grandfather has a 70% blockage in one caratad artery and a 30% in the other in his neck. The surgeon is against the surgery because of his poor health. It is a matter of time now. He decided 2 months ago (when my grandmother passed and I traveled out to see him for the funeral) he needed his dance partner (this is the only woman he has loved forever) and it was time to go..........Ohhhhhhhhhhhh what the hell do you do with this!!!! I know I said the tears are for me and not for them but damn it!!!! It does not make it any better 

The only thing I can do is live his legacy........

I will be printing this thread's story so he can see it.

[firecracker]

Sorry to hear about your grandpa.

Hope you don't think I'm hijacking this thread.  A big part of my legacy will be my son (now five years old).  As such, I asked some guys in another forum (of straight razor shavers).  Here are some of the responses I got (and liked enough to keep a list of):

A “traditional gentleman” should teach his son(s):
How to be a gentleman, (chivalry included)
How to be a brute (when circumstances dictate)
Honesty and Integrity
A sense of humor
Respect for others property.
Keep your hands to yourself-unless someone else doesn't.
Protect the weak.
Respect authority. It's okay to dissent, but not violently.
Don't argue religion or politics with friends or family.
The right way to treat a lady
How to catch a fish
How to skin a deer
How to grill a good steak
How to repair an engine
How to start a fire
How to treat a lady
How to shine his shoes, sparkling
How to tie a neck tie

[firecracker]

As Henry James said, “Try to be someone upon whom nothing is lost.”

Add to that, how to tell the truth without hurting the listener’s
feelings.

To fear God,
...and to love Him.


how to shave with (and care for) a straight razor
how to shoot
how to drive a car
how to order a drink in a bar without looking like a geek ("I'll have
a sloe Gin Fizz please bartender...." Oy!)
>Have you ever tried to order a Boilermaker in most modern bars? The
>Blank stare is only equal to the one you get when saying you use a
>Straight Razor.

If you think that's bad, just try ordering a Gibson.

Forget about ordering a drink in a bar...what about how to order an
appropriate wine in a 5 star restaurant without looking like you
don't know what you're doing.

TIP – order from the right side of the list, something above $40.