Embrace The Journey

Embrace The Journey.

I keep thinking of this. I had a lot of time to think this weekend either riding my own bike or on the back of Pete’s.

I thought that embrace the journey related to the idea that you can’t always control what’s going on in your life, but you can go with the flow and hope to learn something.

I thought that embrace the journey related to the idea that you have difficult situation and stopping to really see where you’re at in life may lend you clarity.

I thought that embrace the journey related to the idea that I shouldn’t be afraid of trying something new, I should embrace the unknown.

This weekend I realized another embrace the journey. You know how you’re having a good time in life and you somehow overlook how good it is? How fun it is? Then later you look back at that time and you realize just how good it was, just how fun it was. From now on I want to embrace the journey TODAY. I want to live in the moment where I realize that life is good. Life is fulfilling. Life is amazing.

I don’t know if I’m explaining it right. I do think it comes down to living in the moment and not worrying about the next hour, the next day or the next week. About really being present in your own life. Really being aware of what you are doing and others are doing and taking it in. And not only taking it in, but making it your own.

Memories are good, but living the moment is better.

I'm dreaming

Dreaming of log rides into the sun on a summer days.
Dreaming of laying the mini-camper listening to the birds, the breeze and voices in the distant.
Dreaming of sitting by a fire listening to people talk.
Dreaming of seeing new sights and new places and lots of picture taking.
Dreaming of getting up with the sun, cool and bright and wondering what the day will bring.

I'm dreaming of summer.

My first solo

I love Pete. I love that he is my rock, my protector, my bodyguard.

Ever since I got my cycle license he's ridden everywhere with me. And I appreciated it. I'm still working on getting going when you have no arrow on left turns. I still take a little more time on starts. I go slower than most cars on turns and curves. And through it all, Pete is behind me. He prtects me from irritated drivers. He gives me the space so people aren't crowding me.

Today he got up with me a rode with me to work. Before he left he said "Please don't solo too far." I giggled. It really would be my first solo. Kind of like when someone is lerning to fly a plane - the first solo is a big deal. I took my lunch and drove over to my sisters house to chat with her. I solo'd. And I did great!

Motorcycle...continued

I have bags! Good bags. Saddlebags for the motorcycle. I was worrying yesterday because I asked the dealer to install the bags and put the license plate on the back of one of the bags. Was I making the right decision to punch through the bag with the plate? I knew that I didn't want it on the fender because they'd have to put holes in the fender. So the bags was the only other option. It worked. They look awesome. So now all that I have to worry about is the front controls. They should be in soon so they can be installed.

It's going to get nice next week. The week that I start my month of really not being able to take any time off or leave early. So I told Pete that I'd be riding around the circular drive at work ever break I got!

I have no pictures...

Usually when we ride with the group to some motorcycle function, I'm taking pictures the whole way. I come home and I have scenery pictures, riding pictures, party pictures...usually too many to count.

Only this time I have no pictures.

Firstly it's because...I RODE MY OWN BIKE! I rode for the first time in a group with the rest of the club. It was so cool. I did pretty good - kept up and didn't have any issues. The one time I killed it, I got it started again so that no one really noticed. And if you could see me know, you'd see a smiling woman with the print of goggle eyes already. In other words, I've been out riding so much with my glasses on that my eyes and the surrounding skin are white and the rest of my face is tanned. I've been putting on sunscreen daily now.

When we did get to the outing, I pulled out my camera to take pictures...and my battery had died. I use it so little in the winder that I don't think I've charged the battery since we went to Texas in January.

So no pictures. You'll jst have to take my word for it - happy day!

My Romantic Husband...

Sometimes he just surprises me and my heart melts for him all over again.

We went to Dulanos Pizza last night for first Thursday. I don't know how it started or why, but every first Thursday in the spring, summer and fall, people with all kinds of motorcycles come to see and be seen. We got there early and got a good spot where most of the bikes come in. We went in and ate a pizza and by the time we got back outside it was packed. Awesome seeing that many bikes. Just think, next month I'll be adding to the number by riding mine down there!

It got to be about 8:30 and we headed out. On the way home Pete stopped at our favorite place. The place where we got married. He sat me down on a park bench and got out his phone. I thought he was going to be texting. Only he played this song:

Just you and I,
Sharing our love together.
And I know in time,
We'll build the dreams we treasure.
We'll be all right, just you and I.

Just you and I
Just you and I
Sharing our love together
And I know in time,
And I know in time, W
e'll build the dreams we treasure.

We'll be all right,
Just you and I.

Chorus: And I remember our first embrace,
That smile that was on your face,
The promises that we made.
And now, your love is my reward,
And I love you even more,
Than I ever did before.

Just you and I
Just you and I
We can entrust each other,
With you in my life,
With you in my life,
They'll never be another.

We'll be all right,
Just you and I.

Repeat Chorus

We made it you and I.

*sigh* my heart melted. It's the first song we danced to after we got married. And he looked at me the same way that he did when we first danced to it. I fell in love all over and thanked the universe for bringing this wonderful man and I together.

The sun calls me

I'm sitting here, at my desk, taking a little break. And all I can think of is to be outside. I am so in love with riding that motorcycle. There are so many emotions and thoughts that play into that. It's something that I set out to accomplish and did. It's something that I never ever thought I'd do, but I did. It's freeing. It's a self confidence booster. It's like flying. It's powerful to know that I'm riding this machine. It's personal - me, myself and I. It's all those things and more.

There is a story behind my bike. Last year it was purchased by a woman who took her Rider's Edge class. She loved it, customized it and rode it a lot, even though it was late in the season. Then she traded it in for a new bike, a bigger bike. She so loved the idea of riding that she decided to work with Harley and creat a book about women riders. I was encouraged to write to her about buying her bike and telling her my story. I've been compsing an email in my head for the last few days and finally sent it off yesterday. She wrote back and loved that I bought her bike - that it lives on for a new rider. And she wants to put me in her book. How cool is that?

What should I name her?

2008 Harley 1200 Sportster. 3008 miles. Customized with pegs, bars, seat. And will be getting windshild, bags and forward controls. What should I name her?

100 miles

Yesterday Pete and I drove about 1.5 hours west of our house. To a small town airport. To pick up a motorcycle. When we got there, I spent about 15 minutes riding around the taxi-ways, getting used to the bike. I think Pete was more nervious that I was. He watched for a little bit and then left the area. *grin*

I spent made sure to go about 45 on the straight taxi-way (sans airplanes..) so I'd know what it felt like to go that fast. Wind in my hair, for I forgot my helmet for this little ride. Face in the wind, for there is no windshield. And smile plastered on my face! It was fun. Then I played around starting and stopping so that I could get the clutch down.

And I was ready. *breath in, breath out*

I suited up with helmet this time, gloves and that ever presant smile and we took off. We were both worried about having to go through town and all the stoplights, but I did it. Then the back country roads and getting that little 250 bike up to 55 miles and hour. Smile on, hands gripping the handlebars. Vibrating away from the motor trying to stay up to speed. Wind, lots of wind. Side wind making me lean to left or right. Going into the wind and my helmet lifting off my head (I needed to make it tighter). All the while smiling. I did it.

We'd stop at a stoplight or stop sign and Pete would pull up next to me. And any stranger would have had to look twice to see who's smile was bigger, his or mine. I did it. I rode on the streets with my husband behind me all the way. I can't wait to do it again. I can't wait until I have my bike, one that fits me and that I buy. I can't wait until he and I can ride side by side, in the sun, smiles all the way.

I truely have embraced the journey.