Going out doing what I love... My Passion

Call me crazy, but I have dreamed of my death. In my dream I'm old, probably in my 90s, laying in a bed surrounded by my children and their children. Which is all well and good, but that's not how I wish to depart this reality.

All of us will eventually shuffle off, leaving only the memory of us in the ones we love and who loved us.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

Although, technically I'm not even supposed to be alive! As a child I was diagnosed with All Lymphatic Leukemia, and back in the early 70s the survival rate wasn't exactly the best. At one point the doctors told my father they needed to operate to remove the lymph nodes in my neck, and when he refused the doctors proclaimed I would die. "We are all going to die... No one gets out of this alive,"  was my dad's reply

Obviously I survived... they never did operate and a little while later I finally went into remission. That instilled the mantra into my head as I grew up: 

It doesn't matter how we die, only how we live.

Photo by Harley-Davidson on Unsplash

Last weekend, while I was in Alexandria Bay at the Thousand Islands River Run, I heard the news from New Hampshire. Word of the accident spread quickly through our biker community not only because we're somewhat close to the area (just a day ride), but also because we've got Fort Drum Army Post literally in our back yard (and most of the victims were former Marines). 

Going back to my youth again, growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 80s and 90s, I had quite a few friends pass away from a terminal illness that left their bodies weak and frail. For some it was all they could do just to sit up in bed. There was no way for them to do what they loved, even if that was just a walk in the park.

This past weekend there was also news from Hawaii: a plane carrying skydivers had gone down. In the news coverage, the girlfriend of one of the victims had said, "...he loved what he did and he died doing what he loved, so it was beautiful." 

Yes, both accidents were tragedies. And yes, both should never have happened. However, that is as much a part of the circle of life as life itself: birth, life, death, repeat.

And, if given the choice between a long suffering illness where my body and/or mind could betray me and I'm left virtually helpless, or a quick accident where I was doing something I enjoyed, I'd take the later. If at all possible, I'd like to go out doing what I love.

Life's Not Fair... (Get Used To It)

That's what I was told growing up by my father. Even though I have a half-sister and half-brother (my dad's first marriage), they were in their late teens when I was born, so I was essentially an 'only child'. 

Of course I had chores and I thought I worked my butt off, so when I was denied the pony I thought I deserved after all my 'hard' work, I cried, "That's not fair!!"

My dad would come right back with, "Life isn't fair... might as well get used to it now."

I thought that was incredibly cruel. This was my father -the person who was supposed to protect and fight for me!! But up until my 8th or 9th birthday I'd go to him with some perceived injustice only to hear the same response:

"Life's not fair D.C., get used to it"

My parents divorced when I was 12 and my mom was granted custody. I'd visit my dad during the holidays and for a month in the summer, although I stopped going to him for help. 

I was surprised at age 18 when he bought me my first car -a 1982 Ford Escort with a 4-speed manual transmission. Of course I didn't have a clue how to work a stick-shift, so he gave me a quick lesson and then left me to figure it out myself. I wanted to cry, "Why couldn't you have gotten me an automatic??!" but knew I'd only hear the old reply... I must have stalled that car at least 500 times! Although I eventually figured it out for myself, with the help of Kim (my BFF from high-school).

Fast forward to January 2019. Krissi (FX Caprara Harley-Davidson's Motorclothes Manager) and myself head out to Phoenix, Arizona for the General Merchandise Rally (formerly known as the Winter Dealer Meeting) put on by the MoCo each winter.

It's our chance to see the clothing that Harley has coming out for Fall & Winter 2019 up close, trying them on, seeing how they fit (there are certain details you just don't see in a catalog). You can see the H-D Moto, 1903 and Garage collection runway shows on the Life Behind Bars Youtube Channel. Licensed Vendors are there too, with their t-shirts, jewelry, purses, wallets, barware, signs, holiday decor, and more.

Because the rally only lasts two days, we took advantage of the 70°F temps and sunny skies, getting outside every chance we got. As tempting as it was to stay, we both have family & friends we wanted to come home to (and who wanted us home!). 

But Winter Storm Harper had other ideas. At first we were supposed to fly on Saturday to Charlotte, and then on to Syracuse, except that was landing 6:30pm EST -right when the storm was expected to hit. So our flight was changed to Chicago and from there to Syracuse, landing at 2:30... however the storm had hit Chi-town first and our flight from Phoenix was delayed 2½ hours (but that did allow us to see a desert sunrise). 

Eventually we did make it to Chicago, only to learn our connecting flight to Syracuse had been cancelled. Called the airline- they got us on a flight to Boston to get a flight back to Syracuse on Sunday... so we spent the night at Best Western O'Hare with Shoeless Joe's Ale House & Grill right next door. Krissi and I had the best meal of the entire trip there!!

And then later that night, with Winter Storm Harper still pounding the Northeast, we learned our connecting flight from Boston to Syracuse had been cancelled. The airlines wouldn't be able to get us home until Wednesday.... three days later! 

Left to our own devices we decided to rent a car and drive the 12 hours (under normal conditions) back to Syracuse -thanks to road conditions and a couple patches of lake effect snow that turned into 15 hours with the big, beautiful Wolf Blood Moon to guide us.

Along the way Krissi and I talked about a number of things (and also some car-pool karaoke!), and our upbringing was one of the topics. I told her about my dad and his quote... and how I realized years ago that my father's so-thought cruelty was actually love, instilling me with certain survival skills. Giving me a 'Biker mentality'. 

The knowledge that Life isn't fair at times has given me the ability to appreciate the small victories when they come and to carry-on despite what others see to be a set back. More than a few people would be stopped in their tracks, playing the victim and screaming how life isn't fair. Of course there's a grieving process, but we must keep moving forward if we are to survive. 

By learning that life isn't and will never be fair when I was young has given me the ability to discard one plan to get home and make another one. 

Thanks Dad!

I'm 24 and Single... Is buying a Harley a terrible idea?

The short answer is: No. No it's not a bad idea to buy a Harley, no matter what age you are (IMHO of course).

Over the years working for FX Caprara Harley-Davidson (and other H-D Dealerships) I've heard the term "geezer glide" when younger generations refer to Harley motorcycles.

Or how they can't even think of owning a Harley because they're sssooo expensive.

Put yourself here....

Still, they stare at our bikes with that dreamy look in their eyes. 

I tell them they can through a leg over and sit on the bike they're drooling over, and when they do, I hear "Oh, this is nice!"

Growing up in Northern California, Harley-Davidson motorcycles were everywhere. Relatives, friends and then co-workers all had them and I thought to myself that they must have been rich. 

But once I graduated college I realized that all my "Harley Relations" had just made the feeling of being free (the feeling we all get from riding) a priority in their lives.

Let me see if I can elaborate on what it's like to ride:
When I'm riding my motorcycle, and it sounds cliche to say this, but I really am FREE... 

I am at one with my universe and everything else (stress, troubles & worries) just melt away. 

I am flying without having to grow wings. 

We believe you can fly too....

I am alive with every fiber of my being. 

So, how do you know if owning a Harley is your priority? Two questions to help you decide:

1. First, there's the cold math of if you've got the money. But luckily you can often find "Previously Enjoyed" Harley-Davidson Motorcycles for under $10K. And sometimes dealers have "No Money Down, No Payments for 90 Days" finance deals (like this one).
2. Then there's the emotional side: You should want to travel and have fun.

Ready to go on? 

Now that you realize you want to live life on two wheels, there are some things to consider:

• Motorcycling is a sport that requires focus, mental dexterity and agility. If you're wanting to ride to impress others or race the other guy to the next stop light, then you're in it for the wrong reasons. As long as you keep your ego in check and understand how and where a motorcycle operates, you will lower the chance of being "young & dumb."
• The best way to get the "M" endorsement on your license is to take the Basic Riders Course through a MSF Certified School. You'll learn things you didn't even know you needed to know, you'll be better behind the wheel of your car, you'll lower your insurance rates, and (as long as you pass) you won't have to re-test at the DMV.
• Gear to Stay: Having the proper riding gear can make or break

  

  Full Gear, not Fool's Gear

  you -literally. DOT Helmet, over-the-ankle boots, jeans and a nylon jacket are all highly recommended. If you don't have the gear already, factor this in on Step 1 above.

Next comes finding the right first bike. 

If you know anyone who rides, you can  ask them to help you..... as long as they're not a snob about it, you'll be fine.

And of course, there's always Google...

When it comes to your first love on two wheels, I suggest remembering:

• Size matters: you should be able to pick the bike up off its kick stand and sit comfortably with both feet flat on the ground. Harley-Davidson motorcycles are great in this regard because they can be made to fit you: change the seat and lowering the shocks can get you closer to the ground; or if you need to stretch out, extended controls and changing out the seat will allow that to happen.
• No PDQ about it: Motorcycles will give you the most bang for

  

  V-Rod Muscle

  your buck performance wise- but your first bike doesn't necessarily need to have 125 hp right out of the box (like the V-Rod Muscle). Start with a Street 750 until you get a couple thousand miles under your belt, then upgrade. If your riding friends quip about how bored you're going to be with a smaller motor, ignore them. This is about you. (Remember what I said about ego?)
• Money is no object: So you've got Step 1 covered and wish to buy the bike of your dreams before that "M" is dry on your license. You do realize that your first bike is going to be  dropped & stalled more times than you'll admit to anyone, right? Learn to ride first, decide the type of riding you prefer (long distance, around town, all the above), put those miles on, then get the bike of your reality.
• Feeling the Age: Your clothes -vintage. You frequent antique
  
  shops and estate sales. And your friends frequently describe you as being an "old soul." So you might be thinking of going kickstart shovelhead for your first Harley. I implore you to think again. Yes, old school is great, but older motorcycles are prone to mechanical failure, parts are hard to find, and you're not a mechanic by trade. You want to be riding, not wrenching. Then see how much motorcycle technology has advanced in the past 10 years alone: electric start, fuel injection, ABS, rider aids are all there for a fun and safer ride than your grand-dad had. You'll want to get a modern, reliable bike from a trusted H-D Dealership. 

So to recap: it is a great idea to own a Harley. Sure ownership comes with responsibility- you should be able to afford it and take care of your motorcycle with routine maintenance. 

Just remember the rewards that also come along with Harley ownership are sssoooo worth every penny. 

Among which are a life worth living, 

liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

Ride Motorcycles and be Happier - 10 Ways

At times I'm your typical Northern California girl - I love yoga, definitely a nature lover, I'm into Zen-like thinking, and I subscribe to a number of "feel good" blogs.

One Elephant Journal article I read recently was titled 10 ways to Choose Happiness. (However I'm not a complete "hippie" because my first thought was, "One of them better involve riding a motorcycle!!") 

And, while the author didn't mention motorcycles in the article at all (how DARE they!), as it turns out all the bullet points can be achieved when you're a motorcyclist. Here, I'll show you: 

• Detach: On my motorcycle all I have to do is twist the throttle and I detach myself from all the negatives of my day.
• Give & Receive: By joining NNY H.O.G. (our local Harley Owners Group chapter) I am able to give advice and mentorship to those around me. And the camaraderie & great memories I receive in return? Priceless.
• Appreciate Yourself: "Give yourself some love on a daily basis." Easily done when I'm riding, or thinking about riding, or planning a ride, or reading about riding.... You get the point.
• Connect with Nature: Riding a motorcycle is

  

  "You in the mini-van - how long you in for?"

  completely different than riding in a car. In a car the windshield & cabin act to keep you in a cage, detached from what is around you - like you're watching a movie. When you're riding a motorcycle, you are IN the scene rather than staring at it from afar. You see & smell much more on a motorcycle than you ever do in a car. You're definitely connecting with Nature on a very intimate level.
• Be In The Moment: To be a good motorcyclist you need to be focused on what you're doing, NOW.
  
  What happened 10 minutes ago, last week and last year all melt into the background. And the only future you need to be aware of is which road you're going to take.
• Love Yourself: The fact that I didn't reach my weight goal, or that my teeth aren't going to pass the "tissue test" or that I didn't get many "likes" on my Facebook posts, doesn't matter in the least to my Harley-Davidson!! But seriously I don't really care about any of that stuff because I learned a long time ago that none of that matters. Thanks in large part to riding, I've come to know I'm beautiful. Period.
• Practice Gratitude: It's easy to complain, but then
  
  I realize how blessed I am - I can simply jump on my bike and ride away from it all and not everyone can.
• Get Inspired Daily: I'll think back to Harley-Davidson's four founding fathers who, over a century ago, had the foresight to start a company that evolved into a way of life that I so enjoy. Listening to other Bikers tell their story of their favorite road is another way I'm inspired.
• Focus on the Good: I was stuck in traffic on a hot July day, getting caught up at how I should have
  
  taken another route - getting too focused on the bad. I started looking around and there was a straight up Amish guy sitting close by, just looking at me on my bike as I sat sweating. All of a sudden he gives me the biggest smile and flashes me a 'biker wave'!!! The best one I've ever gotten came out of something I didn't initially see as good... 
• Practice Self-care: Putting on my riding gear and making sure my bike is well maintained certainly rev up my mind, body & spirit!!

So there you have it, when you ride a motorcycle you're a happier person. It's true that money cannot buy happiness, but it can buy you a Harley, which is pretty much the same thing! 

Do you hear their call?

Some of our customers don't believe us. They think it's just a sales tactic. However I've seen it happen enough times, both at FX Caprara Harley-Davidson and at Harley-Davidson of Atlanta, to know it's true. I even had it happen to me!

The Bikes call to people. "I should be yours..." "Take me home." "Let's go ride!" And they call all year round, regardless if there's snow on the ground. But they don't just call to only one person.... and that's when the trouble starts.

When I was working at H-D Atl, they had a 'previously enjoyed' Super Glide in the showroom. Every day I went to work I'd see this bike and hear her call. 

Finally, after almost two months, I made the choice

to bring her home. As I was filling out the finance app our GM came over to me. "I heard you were interested in that silver Dyna Super Glide.... How interested in it are you? Because I just had two others say they want it."

At FXCHD we've had customers express their love for a particular bike, but when we ask if they'd like to leave a deposit to hold the bike they decline. Then, sometimes within an hour after the first customer leaving, another customer comes along and falls in love with the same bike, and wants to get it.... NOW.

We do try to contact the first customer (if they gave us their info) and let them know about the other interested party. Not to start a bidding war but simply because they were there first! 

Customers will come back in a few weeks or even a month later and ask, "What happened to that bike? Why did you sell it??" Well, that's because we're not a museum.... It's our job.

Even though there's still snow on the ground, February is a great time to buy a motorcycle - even the other experts agree. We've gotten in great trades and our new bike inventory is stocked up, plus a few less customers around to hear "the call."

However, once the weather shows a hint of warming up enough for us to ride - usually in late March - the demand will increase and supply decrease. 

Not to mention, Harley-Davidson has two good programs that are ending on February 28, 2017: 

1. 0.99%APR with $0 Down* on select new 2016 Harley Motorcycles
2. FREE Extended Factory Warranty** on new 2016 Harley Motorcycles

So, even though the riding season is still 6 to 8 or maybe even 10 weeks out, if you're in the market to get a motorcycle, NOW is the time to do it. 

Are You Plotting Your Partner's Death?? (Getting Real Serious Now - Part III)

Anyone who's been in a semi-serious relationship for more than a few months has probably had this thought cross their mind.... But more than likely not from my point of view. 

Allow me to get a little personal here: Are you guys renting an apartment? Buying a house? Bought a car together? Is s/he helping to pay your cell phone bill? The more your finances are intertwined, the more things have a potential for unraveling. 

Then there's the physical side of it: Does your

partner help cook, clean, take care of the kids, shovel snow, mow the lawn, perform home maintenance, balance the finances, keep to the budget, and/or keep track of your calendar? And have you ever thought what would happen to you if the unthinkable ever happened to your spouse?? 

....if you think having this coverage means your insurance will pay you what you think your bike is worth, you'll need to think again.

In Part I we talked briefly on motorcycle insurance and how it differs from auto insurance. Then in Part II we covered how insurance companies want to save YOU money (in the short term). Now I'll talk about the different parts of a motorcycle insurance policy and things you should consider.

(I'll just remind everyone that I'm not an insurance agent or broker, nor am I an attorney of any type. I'm just someone who has seen a few things while working at FX Caprara Harley-Davidson.)

The Requirements:

• Bodily Injury - protects the other guy when you hit them.
• Property Damage Liability Coverage - protects the other guys vehicle when you hit them.
• Collision Coverage - protects your bike (and the bank if you have a loan on it).... sort of. It's no-fault coverage that will cover the damage from almost any collision (but read the fine print on that). But if you think having this coverage means your insurance will pay you what you think your bike is worth, you'll need to think again.

So, the first three °requirements° for a rider to carry on his/her motorcycle insurance policy do absolutely nothing to protect the person actually riding!!

Are you starting to see where I'm coming from?? If your spouse suffers an accident while riding their motorcycle, who is going to protect them? And should that accident be fatal, who is going to protect you??

This is why I implore every Biker I meet, especially those that are new to the sport, to please review your insurance policy before it's too late!!!

Part IV will be on the road soon....

To Our Military Men & Women, active & retired: THANK YOU (not a big enough word)

Even though I've never served I understand better than most

L to R: My daughter, son & husband at my son's
graduation from Marine Corp Boot Camp, Nov. 2013

the sacrifices members of the U.S. Military Armed Forces make. I come from a military family: my father & half-brother both served as I was growing up. My husband served 18 years as an Army Infantryman, enduring six deployments - twice to both Afghanistan and Iraq, before he was medically discharged. And now my son is serving in the Marine Corp, currently deployed to Japan - his first Christmas not at home.

When I read this poem I immediately knew I had to share it here. It came to me from a friend of a friend of a friend, so I'm not sure who wrote it. But I have a feeling that the author would rather have our men & women of our military and their families remembered before s/he. 

A Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love, I would sleep,
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, but I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, 

and I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, a lone figure stood his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, 

perhaps a Marine, 

huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, 

he looked up and smiled, standing watch over me, 

and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack; brush the snow from your sleeve-
you should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,

to the window that danced with a warm fire's light.
Then he sighed and he said "It’s really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, that separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before.
My Gramps died at Pearl on a day in December."
Then he sighed, 

"That's a Christmas Gram always remembers."

"My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures; he's sure got her smile." 

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, the red, white, and blue... 

an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and 

the being alone, away from my family, 

my house and my home. 

I can stand at my post through the rain 

and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole 

with little to eat. 

I can carry the weight of killing another,
or lay down my life for my sister or brother,
who stand at the front against any and all.
To ensure for all time that 

this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "Harbor no fright. Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least? Give you money," I asked, "Or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done, for being 

away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
to fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
to stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
to know you remember we fought and we bled
is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
that we mattered to you, as you mattered to us."

Getting real serious now - Part 1

"It's better to have it and not need it

than to need it and not have it."

Sage advice that we've heard numerous times before. But thanks to Flo, Mayhem and that guy from Allstate, we sometimes get lulled into thinking it's better to 'cut back on insurance' and save... I'm just here to remind you that what you're saving on today is what your insurance company will probably save on later.... like when you have to file a claim. 

BTW: I'm not promoting one insurance company over the other, nor am I licensed to sell any type of insurance - these are just lessons I've learned on my own or through friends' experiences.

I talked briefly about motorcycle insurance earlier this year, however I've learned a lot more since then, so I'm going to cover all of what I know so far:

• In New York, because of our short riding season, motorcycles
  
  are considered a recreational vehicle. That means what you're automatically covered with in your car may not be the same for your bike. Find out how your state clarifies your motorcycle.
• Liability coverage is required by state law, however this type of coverage protects the other guy from damage or injury, not you. It is in your best interest to get 'optional' insurance coverage on your motorcycle policy.

Let me just pause here, because this is a BIG deal. The bare minimum, state required motorcycle insurance coverage is designed to protect the person you hit, not you. So, if the other person hits you, all you'll have is their insurance to pay for your damages and injuries. 

Now, follow along with me here, because chances are good that the driver who just hit you also has the bare minimum insurance coverage required by law - about 75% of drivers do - which is $25K bodily injury per person, $50K total bodily injury per accident (if you happen to have a passenger) in New York State. And no, you don't get to add those two amounts together.

Please THINK about that a minute!! Let's just say you're riding along when Nathan No-Look turns left in front of you (the most common motorcycle accident) and down you go. Your leg is badly broken, as well as a couple of ribs and wrist. All you can see of your bike is a pile of smoking metal. 

The paramedics arrive and call for a Life-Flight because you need emergency surgery - NOW. Of course you and your family members are wanting the EMT people to act quickly, plus you're in shock by this time, so no one is thinking of the cost that all this attention will add up to at the time it's happening. But don't worry, the insurance companies already have!

Anywho, the average cost of a Life-Flight is $15,000. "Well, I've got medical insurance, so I'm covered," you say. Think again. Most medical insurance policies cover life-flights at 50-60% (if the provider is in your network.... but you didn't think to ask that either), leaving you holding a $6000-$7500 or more bill.

Of course if the Life-Flight isn't covered by your health insurance, and you only have the liability coverage on your motorcycle insurance policy (which doesn't cover any medical costs for you!), then you can get stuck for the full cost of the Air Ambulance. At that point rates are usually calculated by the cost of jet fuel, type of aircraft, distance flown and staff on the flight, which can be anywhere between $2000-$50,000.

And that bill is just the beginning....

~continued in Part 2

Thank you for waving at me as you tried to crush me with your car.....

One of the things that I love about my job at FX Caprara Harley-Davidson® is that we are an advocate for motorcycle safety & riding aware. That's why I jumped at the chance to participate in the Fort Drum Motorcycle Safety Day, representing the dealership.

At the safety day I spoke about motorcycle insurance, motorcycle tires, and the Harley Owners Group. They had other professionals speaking about riding safely as well - blind spots around tractor-trailer rigs, most common accidents, motorcycling myths, etc. 

Ironically, as I left Fort Drum to return to FX Caprara Harley, I put all those safety tips to the test. And sometimes the people who need to hear about motorcycle safety are the drivers (aka Cagers) behind the wheel!!

I was riding along on a 2-lane interstate and a construction zone had the left/fast lane closed off. So I'm in the right/slow lane and there's a silver sedan coming up on an on-ramp. With plenty of room, I was going to allow this car to get in front of me - but this guy had other plans.

The car started slowing down and I took that to mean that I was to go ahead and pass - so I did. And now I'm in front of the car, expecting to see him get behind me, and I'm watching my rear-view mirror to make sure that is what he's going to do.... but I don't see him.

And now the on-ramp/merge lane is coming to an end.... Where is this guy?? I look to my right and he's right next to me, smiling and waving..... and coming right towards me in his car!! I have no choice but to slow down and let this driver get in front of me - again!! 

What made it worse, I'm wearing my waterproof gauntlet gloves and cannot give the proper finger.... so I just raise my left arm and my voice to yell at him. His reply: lifting his arm out his window to wave at me.... Wow, really??

Then the interstate opens back up to two lanes, and I immediately speed up to 65, move over to the left/passing lane, and pass this guy. As I'm riding past this driver, of course I'm looking at him - as if I'll magically be able to figure out his motive for trying to kill me. And he waves at me.... again!!!

I'm not sure why this driver thought smiling and waving at me as he

tried to crush me with his car was ok. Was he mesmerized by a woman riding a Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide? Did he think/expect me to just move out of his way? Did he want a closer look at my bike without getting out of his car? Was he playing a joke - albeit a bad one? Did he realize what he was doing??

Whatever the case with this driver, I'm here to tell you as a rider, this is the stuff our nightmares are made out of and in real life it's not ok.  It is never ok for a driver to use his/her car to drive into a motorcycle and rider!! Please, for the love of all that is holy, watch out for those of us who ride!!! Thank you in advance!