Back in 2005, I found out I had kidney cancer.....on April fools day no less (seriously, no joke). I thought it was the end of me. My dad had passed away at 52 years of age and I thought that I was going to equal that.
After they took out my right kidney, they said that all of the cancer was encased in a layer of fat surrounding that kidney and that my prognosis looked good for a full recovery.
For several years up to that point, I had been brain farting about buying a bike again. I hadn't riden since I was a young man (last bike was a '75 Yamaha XS650) and had always wanted to own a bike again some day....but keep putting it off for one excuse after another.
That was the trigger for me boy. After getting out and healing (which took longer than I thought it would) I started looking for a bike again. I already knew what I wanted (a Valk), and started looking.
Just by accident I found my red and white standard (I hadn't found what I wanted and was just about ready to give in and look for something else) and for a good price to boot.
Bought it, rode it home, parked it in the garage and stared at it for about an hour or so with a really big crap-eaten' grin on my face. Mind you, I hadn't been on a bike in probably over 25 years or so....so I had ALOT to relearn.
Took an MSF course asap and have been clocking miles making up for lost time ever since.....haven't looked back.
There ARE brighter days ahead.....and you WILL ride again.
