Bikers and Ds

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

I got my MHDSA newsletter in the mail and this is what I found. The bikers raised $11,000 for the children. YEA!!!! The part that touched me was paragraph three where they talked about how they (bikers) get discriminated against too because of their outside appearance. I just had to share It's the volunteer section ;D

www.mhdsa.org/Newsletter/Mar08MHDSAnews.pdf

[elizabethsmom]

Joby rides a Harley. When we were working in central California, we went for a long ride and had on black leather chaps, boots, jackets, helmets, etc. (It was Feb. and cool) We stopped somewhere (I think it was a gas station or McDonalds or something) and there was a mother with a child there near us. She actually took a hold of her sons hand to pull him closer to her when they passed Joby! Two days later, we were at the hospital going to have lunch and I looked over at him as we passed a woman with her young child in the hall. Joby had smiled at them and the mom and child both smiled and waved at him. So... appearances are definately impressionable and people definately judge you by them often! In chaps, apparently he looks like a bad***, in surgical scrubs, he looks like a life saver!

Sorry so long-winded. And I meant to just leave a quick note saying "way to go Mr. Biker!" :-)

Sheryl

[hannahph]

I used to work in a resort town that hosted an convention for bikers. These people were by far the nicest and most cool, fun people I have ever met. I am thrilled to hear they raised that much money-and not at all suprised.

[lespring]

My entire extended family (both my side and Dean's ) all ride. I don't know what I'd do without a bike in my life! We're in the process of having a sidecar painted/mounted for Angela to ride with me.

Our Special Olympics holds the largest "Blessing of the Bikes" in the region. Last year we had about 300 bikes there, but it was only 38* outside. The year before we had about 1500 bikes. It was AWESOME!!!

Here is something you might be interested in reading:

But, You Didn't See Me

I saw you, hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line. But, you didn't see me, put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday. I saw you, pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.But, you didn't see me, playing Santa at the local mall.

I saw you, change your mind about going into the restaurant. But, you didn't see me, attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief. I saw you, roll up your window and shake your head when I drove by.But, you didn't see me, driving behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you, frown at me when I smiled at your children.But, you didn't see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless. I saw you, stare at my long hair. But, you didn't see me, and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you, roll your eyes at our leather coats and gloves. But, you didn't see me, and my brothers donate our old coats and gloves to those that had none. I saw you, look in fright at my tattoos. But, you didn't see me, cry as my children where born and have their name written over and in my heart.

I saw you, change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere. But, you didn't see me, going home to be with my family.
I saw you, complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be. But, you didn't see me, when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you, yelling at your kids in the car. But, you didn't see me, pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me.I saw you, reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road. But, you didn't see me, squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you, race down the road in the rain. But, you didn't see me, get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date. I saw you, run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time. But, you didn't see me, trying to turn right.

I saw you, cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in. But, you didn't see me, leave the road. I saw you, waiting impatiently for my friends to pass. But, you didn't see me. I wasn't there.

I saw you, go home to your family. But, you didn't see me. Because, I died that day you cut me off. I was just a biker,......A person with friends and a family.

*note* I have no idea who wrote this. I dug around online only to find 3 or 4 different people taking credit for it.

Angela with "The Preacher" at the Blessing of the Bikes 2 years ago


She gravitates to the scariest looking guys. LOL


On Dean's bike


The BIKES at the blessing!




Angela gets rides at home all the time. But at the blessing ALL the athletes get rides. This is a friend of ours.

[momofrussell]

AWESOME!!!!!!

A.

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Leah, i've always loved that story. Angela is so cute w/ her friends I just love her.
Around here we do the Locks for Love, Toys for Tots and the Bikes for Breast Cancer. Always a huge success And the poker runs that the $ gets donated to a charity of the winners choice.
Sheryl, you got the avatar up. Yea She is so cute. Your story is how it is for so many of us bikers. Kinda sad but true. They just don't realize what we do w/ our lives when the chaps and helmets come off.

[laurasmom]

Laura loves motorcycles, has been after her Dad for a long time to get one.
Myrtle Beach hosts 3 large bike rallies every year. We always take the girls up to see the bikes. And our local group has an offer of a poker run to benefit our group.

When we take the girls to MB to see the bikes, we are always riding around with the windows down, and Laura is hanging out, waving at everyone, smiling. She gets lots of waves and smiles back, and because traffic always moves at a snails pace, she gets lots of high fives also!

Sharon

[jelanismom]

How awesome! Googsmom
I wish my computer wasn't so darn slow with loading pdf s!

and Wow Leah...thanks for sharing! Angela looks great...I need to go grab a sandwhich and sit down and park in front of my computer and read it all! Great photos...just didn't read yet.

[elizabethsmom]

googsmom- it's so true. We know nurses, doctors, lawyers that ride. The same person you feel the need to protect your kids from, may be the person who saves their life after an accident. Appearances can be VERY deceiving. (a security guard once say my a picture of my husband after he had removed his helmet and was wearing a doo rag to keep his hair out of his face and said, "there's a hoodlum!". This about a man who strangers trust with their children in the OR! haha.

[damarasmom]

Isn't that funny how people make judgements so quick. Both myself and my hubby ride and I think we are pretty normal nice kind caring people!
Go Figure!!!

[lespring]

Me and Angela, looking like any other mother/daughter.


And then there is my alter ego. Me and "Red"

[elizabethsmom]

That's wonderful! Great pics!

[Emilysmom]

GREAT pics!! I love that story, Leah. The Blessing of the Bikes looks like something Emily would LOVE!


Susan

[andrewsmom]

I loved that Leah! Jeff has a Harley and Andrew loves LOOKING at it, but when Jeff starts it up...Andrew RUNS the other way...LOL!

-Trisha