That Special Magic...

[DDT (12)]

That Special Magic...
 
I just gotta write something! Anything! I've been unable for the most part to think of anything worthy of scribbling about for some time now, so my typing fingers have been relatively inactive lately... and I'm tired of it!
 
I could, I suppose, spend some time recording my transition from shock, to disbelief, to profound sadness, to feelings of guilt and the many accompanying regrets, then to acceptance, and eventually to the gradual replacement of a sense of great loss with mostly pleasant memories. It helped that my landlady and I had discussed these very inevitabilities previously and somewhat partially prepared ourselves for this, but mostly the timing of the transition was minimized by simple wind therapy in large doses.
 
We stuck around for a seemingly respectful length of time following the tragedy, but, while doing my best to disguise my eagerness, I employed the excuse of a doctor's appointment and a forecast of bad weather to justify my slightly early departure. Immediately the healing began to be felt! As many of you unfortunately already know, there is special magic and much solace out yonder to be found by any sufferers who seek it... and I did too...
 
Hours and hours, day after day of simply gliding along on backroads in light traffic, almost tolerable temperatures, and no sprinkles to speak of, my knees in the breeze and my thoughts making their way through the progression of grieving steps. There are no do-overs or reversals in life, so we're left with coping, learning, and moving on. Happily, some of us have the perfect vehicle for hastening all of that along...
 
In times of great loss, some folks prefer having others around them more or less constantly to aid them in coming to terms with events and seeing a way forward. I'm the opposite... For this rider, the best things for those sorts of happenings are solitude and uninterrupted reflection. A solo road trip aboard our girl is the absolute best way ever found for finding just such an opportunity and maximizing the benefits...
 
Our girl and her partner had recently found themselves dealing with yet another unexpected major surprise. We've had many over the years, of course, and we've always shared them and found our way through the maze... and so it was this time.

No plans, naturally, just wandering around hither and yon, exploring roads and areas with no particular agenda or need to see anything specific; we'd just experience whatever our Maker decided to place in our way or along our path... Our range was limited by doctor doings and weather only...
 
Sometimes it might be a stunning view or an exhilarating stretch of curvaceous road, other times it might be an interesting character encountered... Good stuff, often quite meaningful, just seems to find us and alter our perspective or teach us a lesson. When we are tuned into a ride, we discover truly amazing things that can come at us from any direction or in any form...

We've never been highly successful in searching for any of those delights, ironically, but we have come across all of them in abundance while on our way to other things we were 'expecting'... For us anyway, even negative surprises almost always have a silver-lining that makes even them very worthwhile and not dreaded, and for the most part, eagerly anticipated!
 
My way of dealing with things is uniquely suited for this eclectic rider only. I do not offer it as a recommendation for anyone else to follow, and I doubt it would be useful to most folks I’ve ever known. Bits and pieces perhaps could be most helpful, but the whole enchilada…? I don’t think so.

However, for those very special few for whom my particular lifestyle does hold appeal, my guess is they’ve already found this remedy for emotional ailments… it doesn't take long to discover such things once you're mostly free of the rat race... One thing is for certain... There is special magic out there for any who bother to get out yonder and allow it to find them!
 
DDT

[Valkorado]

Good stuff indeed!     There are places to go,  and people to meet.  The legend rides on.

Carry on,  Bruce.

[Rams]

Ya gotta do what you gotta do.  Ain't nothing wrong with that.

Be safe out there, there's actually some folks out there that think they own the whole road.   

Rams

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Good read ... Happy Birthday my friend . Ride On 

[f6gal]

Happy Birthday Bruce!!  You caught up to Psycho again.

[RNFWP]

Happy Birthday, hope it's filled with "that special magic"

As always, thanks for sharing your insights.

[Bigwolf]

Well written my friend!  Happy birthday.

[Thunderbolt]

Keepin your knees in the breeze.  I guess I always felt that way too.  I just wonder how you keep coming up with titles for your stories that makes people want to read them.  Sorta like the folks on Youtube.  They know that if they don't have some spectacular title to draw people in to make folks want to click on the video it won't get much play.  And that's how they get a few dollars from their videos as I understand it.  Then some of them put a picture of a pretty girl or a nice boat or car to get your attention.
I think what some folks do is look first at the author of the post.  If I know you wrote it I'm reading it just because.

[Oss]

 

[mbramley]

  Happy Birthday Bruce. Thanks for another thought provoking post. I'm pretty sure I will never do the type life you enjoy, but perhaps if the universe sees fit I will make to when I'm not bound by work obligations and can at least try a caddiewapple or two.. I think many of us that ride enjoy at least some solitude. That is how I deal with my stresses in life also. It hasn't always been my phat girl(we just meet 5 years ago). For me woods , out on Lake Erie or on a river have done me well.  Live well Bruce and enjoy all that is laid in front of you. Thanks for your writings, they often remind me to do just that, enjoy what I have.

[John Schmidt]

Well my friend, another one in the history book...GREAT! Just keep having them.

We all have our own way of handling stress, loss, etc.  Years ago while still working if I had a particularly taxing day, I would check to see if the club's little C-150 was available. If so, I'd grab it and take off...literally. I would do in the air what you do on the ground...meander with no specific destination in mind. I'd just throttle back to slow flight, often in summer I'd open the window and stick my elbow out like riding in a convertible down a country road. Many times I'd find myself over 100 miles from home so would land, gas up, hit the vending machines and go again. I no longer fly so the bike/trike takes me there...wherever "there" happens to be. A few weeks back I met a friend at a spot about 50 miles away, was a short ride down. Coming back I noted where the sun was relative to where I needed to go and rode off...getting home about 3 hrs. later. Hmmm...50 miles in 3 hrs., great ride. 

[Wizzard]

Happy Birthday Friend. Hope your travels always continue to bring you the solace you deserve and thanks for sharing it with us.

[Valker]

Thanks, Bruce. Great to hear from you again. Happy late birthday-I was moseying along on my Valk for about 400 miles yesterday, I just didn't realize I was celebrating your birthday at the time. I prefer riding alone, no music, no conversations, and no stressful thoughts. That's how I've spent most of my riding life. I get it.
Thanks again.

[Sweet Cheeks]

I am so glad that you are back out on the road.  It is definitely good for the soul.

Stay safe my friend.