Uneasy Rider

You know the old saying "Life's too short." Well today I am paying attention to that saying and doing something I've wanted to do for a long time. In a couple of hours I will be attending my first motorcycle riding class. I've always wanted to ride a motorcycle, but except for hitching a short ride on the back of a college pal's Honda, (I didn't know I was "riding bitch" at the time) I haven't taken the hog by the horns and mounted the steel horse.

My friend John told me that the State of Illinois offered a class that would prepare you for and administer the test to certify you as a legal motorcycle rider. I figured that sounded official and regulated, but I was sure that cost would be an issue. Nope, the class is actually free. Well, there is a $20 registration fee, but that is supposed to be refunded at the end of the class. I had actually registered for the class last Summer, but had to drop it because of my knee surgery. Karma? Foreshadowing? Divine intervention? Who knows? This year I was not to be deterred. I monitored the website and on the day registration opened, I was in. Tonight I begin a five day, 20 hour crash (probably the wrong choice of word) course. By Friday, I hope to have passed the test and have the little "M" added to my driver's license.

I will confess to being a little apprehensive about the whole endeavor. I have been getting a lot of encouragement from "Wife" , friends and even some of the listeners on WGN, but there is a small part of my addled brain that keeps thinking of Gary Busey and my late father's admonition that "No son of mine will ever ride a motorcycle." I really need to do this though. Whether I love it, loath it or just survive the class, at least I'll have done it. I'm starting to look down the road and realizing that it's better to not have a lot of "I wish I hads" at the end of your life.

In my mind, I see myself astride a big Harley riding through the badlands of South Dakota, or along sun drenched fields in Montana where there is no traffic and the only thing I could possibly run into is a wayward buffalo. That's probably a better visual than me perched atop a "crotch rocket" swerving through a traffic jam on one of the local expressways. There has always been something a little freeing and rebellious about riding a motorcycle, and maybe that's what I'm hoping to tap into with this class.

It's time to get ready. I have to change into some more suitable "biker" clothes. I'm sticking with jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt and some boots. I was going to get outfitted with leathers. Chaps, jacket, do rag, the whole nine, but that would be like a guy showing up to a rec league softball game in spikes, full uniform and a cup. Maybe the cup isn't such a bad idea.

I'll post updates all week. Time to get my motor runnin'. Later.....Brian