Long time, no write....again. I have lots to say, but no time to type. Facebook is much easier these days. Add a few little snippets every once in awhile and then move on. This story however needs a blog. Sooooooo, I decide to sell my motorcycle. I think I was on the ebay, craigslist selling train and wanted to sell anything I thought would bring me some cash. I hadn't ridden my motorcycle since last year and for some reason I was feeling a little apprehensive about riding it. I listed it on craigslist and in the newspaper. I got the usual idiot responses from craigslist the first couple of days, then nothing. I thought for sure it would sell quickly because it's cheap, low mileage and it's perfect riding weather. I didn't have any responses until I was in Colorado. Joe called me with the number of a guy that was interested. I call the guy and I could tell by his voice that he wasn't a youngster. He was also a little confused about my listing because he thought I was selling the bike for $4000 and he decided he was going to buy a bike for $3500. I assured him I was selling my bike for $2700. I could tell he needed to mull that over a little bit so we ended our call.
I was still in Colorado when he called me back again. I saw a number on my phone as a missed called, so I called it to see who it was. "Hi, you called my cell phone and I was wondering if it was for me or a wrong number." "You don't know who this is do you?" I tell him "No I don't." He says "well, it's your secret lover." Interesting! "You must be really secret because even I don't know who you are." So, he tells me who it is and proceeds to tell me that he looked up my bike listing again and sure enough "you are selling it for $2700." He wants to take a look at it. I talked to him for probably 20 minutes. He's a really friendly guy and he tells me about all of the motorcycles he has owned; last one being a Gold Wing. Somehow the subject of age came up. I find out he is 84 after he asked how old I am. 84 and he wants to buy a motorcycle. Who am I to judge, more power to him. I got home from Colorado and I gave him a call. He stopped by the house and looked at the bike. I was in the process of leaving to meet Dreama at the hospital for a procedure. I told him that and he just kept talking and talking. His nephew was with him and he finally told him: "get in the car, she's got to go!" He calls me again and says he wants to ride the motorcycle and asks me if I could bring it to a parking lot somewhere so he could try it. I didn't think selling a motorcycle involved this much work. I have a soft spot in my heart for older guys so I agreed to meet him at Homestead High School parking lot. After much chit chat he finally sits on the bike. The first thing he says is: "I hope I don't drop it!" REALLY? "me too" I say. I gave him the run through of the controls and then he whips out his drivers license to show me that he has a motorcycle endorsement. Funny thing, he couldn't see it to read it. I had to show him where it was typed on
the card. I wanted to say: "my Mom is almost 90 and in a nursing home and she has a valid drivers license but that doesn't mean I'm giving her the keys to my car." I should have been really nervous by then, but I figured oh well, that's what I have insurance for. He revs the engine a little (like all boys do), and he starts out slowly, goes 10 feet and stops. "I can't do this." (thank God!!!) He told me he was really sorry he put me through all this. Honestly, I really didn't mind because he was a little sweetheart! So then he's sitting there on the bike and he says: "I don't want you to think I'm making up a story or just saying something to be nice, and I'm not trying to get in your pants or anything. But when you told me you were 50 and I saw you, I would have never guessed you were over 30." That was the funniest, sweetest and kinda ickiest thing I ever heard and I loved him even more.
Before he left he told me to call him sometime to let him know how I am doing. You don't meet many people like him anymore. I don't think our chance encounter had much to do with selling a motorcycle. He is 84 but in his head he is still that young man that rode motorcycles most of his life. The body may give out, but our hearts and our heads are still living in the prime of our life. He gave it a shot, but he realized that he is probably done with his riding days. But if he hadn't of tried he never would have known and always wondered. He may not be happy about it, but at least he can move on now to something else. As for me, I hadn't ridden my bike since last year and for some reason I was afraid to ride it. When he wanted me to meet him with the bike and I agreed, I was pretty much forced to ride it. Funny thing, once I got on it I felt very comfortable and that thrill kicked in. I might not sell it now.
The moral of this story is: No matter how old someone gets, they still have dreams and desires. Don't discount them. Unless of course their dream is to shove chocolate ice cream up their nose and eat it as it drips out.
