Dan the man

The 80’s were such a great time to be young and alive. Even today in my 60’s I get goosebumps remembering how awesome life was then, a bunch of us guys had custom vans some had cars others had motorcycles. Fridays began at the local car wash after dark getting our rides as clean as humanly possible we all worked together there was a level of camaraderie you could only find in the military the same camaraderie we shared in the gym. After a couple of hours we would cruise through downtown showing off our shit like a proud peacock, then we hit our favorite watering hole park across the street and go in and out of the bar all night sometimes until the sun came up. The summers seem to go on forever the nights warm and humid filled with life even after midnight we’ll into the morning. Between all of us there were always cold beers and some weed, none of us had steady girlfriend’s but there were plenty around some we knew from school others were friends of friends a sister that kind of knowing people. Nothing was really serious just hanging out a little partying telling stories laughing at one another, there were hook ups of course we were at an age somewhere between figuring shit out and adulthood. We were having fun

I think at that point in my life I wanted more for myself, but I was giving more of myself to others and that is a great way to waste your life. I was doing what I believe was expected of me, but I was always dreaming of being somewhere else. The memories were much more enjoyable than the present, in the shittiest of times I could smile because I was feeling the last ride I was on. The wind blowing through my soul as the sun warmed my face, the bike purring like a kitten and running flawlessly me knowing it was because of me and my talents.

That simple walk every morning would help create a desire in me to kick my own fat ass and do something about my physical condition. I’ve seen and older gentleman running on my walks home from work, he ran in the street instead of the sidewalk. I wondered why (having never ran a step in my life) he did. One afternoon he was stopped on a corner waiting for traffic to pass and I asked him “why” he told me the asphalt was softer that the concrete sidewalk. That afternoon I put on my converse sneakers and began running at first not very far, but I was determined to lose weight be skinny so I kept at it everyday. I then had to starve myself, there is no faster way to lose weight than running and no eating, of course it’s unhealthy as all hell as I quickly found out. There were a lot on days of light headedness dizziness and cramps. It took less than a year mostly from spring into late fall, but I went from 205lbs to 160lbs. I read up on diet and nutrition and soon realized how much I was harming myself so I began eating clean and taking supplements that was at eighteen years old, 1978.

We sat on the side of the road watching the cars go by soaking up the sun and planning my next move. It was a beautiful July day perfect really, bright sunshine the only breeze was from the passing traffic which wasn’t enough to stop the sweat that was already running down my face. The fact that O was wearing full leathers wasn’t helping plus the anxiety of not knowing where we we’re was not helping. I decided to push my bike to the next exit which didn’t look far but after a few minutes felt like miles away. Thank GOD I put on my leather saddlebags because by the time we reached the exit ramp I was stripped down to just my jeans and boots. There was a gas station up the road off the exit and like a mirage there was a Harley parked there. I belong to one of the guys working there, turned out there was a Harley dealership up the road a he went and got a new chain for my bike. He let me us some tools and after a couple of hours we were back in the saddle and heading to my brothers. It took a little more than an hour to find his place, he lived in a servents house on an estate property he must have heard me coming because as we rounded the corner he was standing on the street and guided me into the driveway which was loose pebble and caught me off guard and I nearly dropped my bike on its side.

I have always been drawn to water, the mystics say it’s because I’m a water sign, Pieces twin fish. Astrology has always fascinated me much like religion and I respect both aspects but don’t hate me because I don’t practice. I prefer to keep my feet in both realms. Self empowerment and blind faith life comfortably in me. I thank GOD when things I cannot control work in my favor and I pat myself on the back when things work out the way I planned. Or like when my guardian angels watch over me and make sure I don’t kill myself doing something stupid. There were a few close calls in my life and a few over sights, more than once I would run out of gas in my van as I was pulling into a gas station, or a stranger helped jumpstart my van when the battery died. That’s why even in today’s world I’ll stop and ask if someone needs help. Traveling allows you to meet different people, expand our own world. I built my first Harley when I was in my twenties, it took fourteen months and less than two grand. I had been hanging around two local motorcycle shops for quite a few years and figured it was time for me to put everything I learned to the test. I did well.