I'm trying to get back into blogging regularly. I have been thinking about it for a while, as you can see. It came down to, I made a life decision, which became complicated in a million ways, it cost me emotionally and financially, and today, my family is restored, yet from September 2013 until now, has been completely insane Hell for myself, and many around me.
These will be written backwards. Starting with NOW, and going back to where things Started to get crazy. I can be graphic in my writing, and these have Tragic events in each and every post.. A little about life, a lot about death. This group of blogs is meant more for a mature audience....
Anyone who is 16ish~ beginning drivers, PLEASE READ THESE... Maybe you can Save a life...
It's Amazing, the number of 40-55 year old people who have been killed by someone16-25 in the past 5 years.
Yes, I blame Some driver's. But, mostly, I blame technology, and Outdated test practices. Obviously... I'm coming after cell phone use, first and foremost. Secondly, the accidents that I am Most passionate about, are car/motorcycle accidents.
According to the DOT... A full face helmet provides protection to the Bones of the face, up to 25 MPH, so, let's not get into the helmet debate here. I have friends in California, where there have Never been helmet laws.. They have accidents, but, not deaths. 9.5 out of 10 times, a helmet just isn't going to matter. That 0.5 would be if you Skid on your ass, it May stop you from being "scalped" .... But, it will not stop a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).
This is information, that I believe should be part of All drivers education and written testing. And there's more that needs to change in the written portion of the Michigan Drivers license test.
It used to be, people learned to ride motorcycles to be rebellious... They started at very young ages. If your parents rode, you may have a mini bike by age 3. That seems to be a thing of the past. For me, it's sad. Riding a motorcycle gives a sense of freedom, and being one with nature, that Nothing else does. Those that ride, know what I mean. Those who don't, simply can not get it.
It's more than drugs, music, "gangs" whether outlaw or not... It's about family. It's about respect, brotherhood, sisterhood, community... You want a charitable event to happen, find a group of bikers. You want Peaceful, legal protest, find an ABATE chapter and see what you can do... Chances are, if they agree with you're cause, they'll not only guide you, they'll join you.
More and more women Drive their own motorcycles today. Why wouldn't you. In a car, your BEST highway mileage is around 40 average... Not constant, but average.... In town, drop that to 30... And I'm being generous here. I know a lot of people who simply cannot afford a new car. Yet, $2000 for a motorcycle, that an experienced rider can ride in all but snow... Will typically get around 50-75 miles per gallon. So. Would you prefer to spend $8.00 a week to drive to and from work, or $20+? An Avid rider will save More money in fuel over bike season than what they'll spend in winter months.
All of that said. Motorcyclists are considered a hindrance on the road. Cell phones are a Major issue. And it's not just teen agers. In fact, the Majority of cell users I see are as old or older than myself.
Another issue is, road rage. People who know nothing about riding a bike, have no idea why they move the way they do. Changing the Written portion of the Michigan State Driver's Test would Help this tremendously. The motorcycle safety handbook, explains all of the actions a motorcycle makes. From what part of the road they ride, to why they weave back and forth in a lane, to why they pass in Most instances....
I'm not saying All riders are good riders. But, I know a lot of Good, if not excellent, riders. They are not "Outlaws" ... They are not criminals. They are cops, dispatchers, doctors, lawyers, judges, managers of Various positions, successful business owners, factory workers, truck drivers, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents. Humans. Family.
That's another thing. You will never know family, until you have a Real bike family. You will never see a group of people come together, like a group of bikers. And.... We believe in God, and America ~The way it should be. Not the way it is. There's an unwritten code of conduct and respect that Many still have.... Not all, that's a fact, but many. Most are the last of "your handshake is your word.... You help me, I'll help you, barter and trade is as good as money... " people left today. It's a Beautiful life. It's something that needs to be filled with happy memories. I'm tired of designing memorial patches for people 16, 25, 50, 55.... That's Not the way life should be.
This "mini series" may take me a little while to get through. I've lost A Lot, as have others in the area I live in. I wanted to ease into this, and I think this is a good intro. I see no need to go into Any of my 8 stories from this post. I feel, this is an opportunity for you to decide if you would like to read further.
I couldn't come up with a fitting title, the next post will be titled, adding a "Part 1", and they will continue on...
Thank you for staying this long. Today is April 18. I'm aiming to write the next part by April 26. Please, Feel free to comment in any way you wish.
DISCLOSURE:
HOWEVER DISRESPECT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. THIS IS MY STORY, MY PERSPECTIVE OF EVENTS. IGNORANCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. UNACCEPTABLE COMMENTS WILL BE DELETED, SOMETHING I PREFER NOT TO DO. IN THIS INSTANCE, I WILL!
