I hope you guys are all happy, I have everyone here at the shelter laughing their collective asses off at me cuz when I saw what this posting turned into, I couldn't help it and some ''water'' leaked out of my eyes, must have been the pepper I put on dinner or something, yeah, thats the ticket, it was the pepper!
I got a personal message from Scondon earlier and I spoke to him this evening. He let me know he has some room for Rita if I can get her to his place. This might work well as I called Lee, another great member whom many of the West-Coaters have met from the Meet and Greet back in June and the end of August Summer run in Marin, And it looks like I might have a way to get Rita over to Scondons' on Sunday in Lee's truck. If I can get her there, Scondon would be willing to help me wrench on her and getting her back to being road ready.
Scondon also told me what some of you'se guys is doin' and I gotta tell ya, I don't know if I should be glad, mad, sad, or ashamed. I feel all of the above but I guess I would have to be honest and just admit to my shame above all else, having admitted where I now live. A couple of you knew what my living situation was back in June through August, I was living in my van at the time, trying to save enough for a shared apartment or something, but like all good intentions, they never go unpunished. I was arrested in early September for a warrant on my suspended license, Thank god I wasn't driving at the time. I got to the court room and worked out a deal with the judge, three tickets got reduce somewhat to just over $2,000 in fines which he turned into community service hours and a $300 fine, paid that part and now I'm trying to find someone to find a use for a disabled guy to get the hours done. After that, I get the license back, and the final ticket will be reduce to about $700. Yeah, you guessed it, when I screw up, I go all the way and do it to perfection. Then, on top of all that, my van got towed and impounded, but that was after someone broke in and cleaned me out of all my software, biker clothes, and a bunch of my extra parts for Rita. So, what else could I do, I signed the van over to the tow company and bid it farewell.
Well, that was September. Now, I still have a bunch of hours to do but the worst of the fines are paid. That just leaves me dealing with all the rest, I'll find someone who needs data entry or something and get the hours worked off. I'll still be going to Physical therapy three and four times a week, and two different doctors once a week or so. Scondon was good enough to remind me that the roof I have is better than the roof I had.
Now, it is time I focused on a few of you:
To the venerable Glenn Stauffer, I met you in person in June and can say in all honesty to the entire membership of SOHC4, you are one Hell of a guy. I'd be willing to bet that Bob Wessner and many others would agree with me on that. Thank you, for your friendship, but especially for the shot glass
, yes, I got it and it is safe at a friends place. I want to know if and when you make it back out here, I'll think of something to return the friendship soon, but I can't think of anything good enough right now.
Terry in Australia, damn pepper keeps messing with my eyes here, what you offered was like a ton of bricks dropped on me. When you do decide to row yourself across the pond, you'll have first dibbs to let Rita give you the ride of your life. Are you six foot tall or more? Rita has some wicked tall handle bars and you gotta be able to hold her in check.
Dusterdude, can't forget to include you in my thanks, as verbose as you are, we all know that you are damn good people. I am honored to call you friend.
UncleErnie, You can usually be counted on for a kick in the pants gut buster laugh, but I gotta say, your words of support go a long way to making me wish I never used pepper for my dinner, got to get some more kleenex.
BurmaShave, your words of support mean a great deal to me, and of course, that pepper got in my eyes again.
Bob Wessner, A fellow Michigander whom I hold in high regard and with great respect, Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To Littleitaly52 and Cmorgan47, I most humbly apologise to you both, I failed you in the worst way. I promise both of you patches way back when, but then my van got ransacked and then towed, yep you guessed it, all my patches and pins were in there so one of these days I'll have to order up a few more from Heffay. Did you contact him for patches and or pins? Did he get more in stock? If so, sometime closer to summer, I'll figure out a way to make it up to the both of you.
To everyone else who has replied, thank you for all the support and cheer, it really touches my heartknowing such good people.
Peace and Long Rides,
Jeff
P.S. I just did a preview on this posting and I almost died laughing, the only time I have ever written this much is when I was ranting and raving about something or other. Just goes to show, you guys bring out the best in people. Peace!
