A Senior Moment...

[DDT (12)]

A Senior Moment…

No way to be sure, of course, but I suppose it’s as good an explanation as any… Stupid, forgetful, absent-minded, or other such descriptor could just as easily be used. Whatever it was, however, I apparently had been exposed to the virus. That’s the third bag I’ve lost off our girl in the last two years!

The first one was due to improperly securing a bag. The second occurred when the fabric of the bag ‘sleeve’ succumbed to the daily bombardment of ultraviolet rays from ol’ sol and simply ripped open where it slid over the pillion backrest. This time it was clear negligence, pure and simple! Naturally, that conclusion wasn’t drawn, though, until the ‘after action’ self-critique following acceptance of the obvious occurred…

I clearly recalled loading our girl that morning, ensuring every step was meticulously taken in the well-practiced daily routine. I made the final check of the motel room then closed the door. I placed that final bag in its usual spot, then emptied my hands of the few other items, and… Time to ride!

Funny, I could clearly recall having taken each step… all except one… Nope, I had no recollection of having crossed that last bag with the bungies and securing it to the upper chrome pieces of the saddlebag guards in front of those fiberglass cargo containers… Drat! Another expensive and inconvenient oversight…

That bag was not full right then, mercifully. It did contain my leather chaps and a pair of comfortable Skechers slip-on, lightweight, street shoes, plus a couple of other minor items. My Gerbings liner was being worn at the time along with my sweatshirt, so they were not in their usual place inside that bag. Of course, I also lost the bag itself, and all of those articles will need to be replaced at some point. Not nearly as expensive as it might have been, but still… a needless cost nonetheless…

I did make a U-turn and go back in a vain attempt to reclaim the lost items and maybe salvage a little pride, but… It was not to be. Getting older is proving to be, among other things, really expensive for this ageing rider/relic! Not only in terms of increasing healthcare costs, but in terms of boo-boos and aw-shucks ways, too. Too cold this time of year to be without my chaps, so… what to do about it…?

I got a room that evening in Winnie, TX, and commenced to pondering… I’d been more or less figuring to ride on to Corpus Christi and maybe renting an Airbnb house or apartment for a while… through the Thanksgiving holiday anyway. After that, we’d likely wander west some more, perhaps taking another rental for the Christmas and New Years holidays someplace… No plan at all, of course, just options being toyed with. Now, we had a new wrinkle to wrestle with…  Inspiration was not long in coming!

I chose to just stay-put at the motel in Winnie for a week. I ordered new chaps online with that motel as the ‘ship to’ location, and then I began the wait. No problem that I could see unless the shipping got boogered up somehow, and no ‘deviation from a plan’ to fret about. This place was as good as a house down the road, I reckon… and this place also has a Waffle House a couple of doors up the road!

Heck, I may even wander across the street to Tia Juanita’s this evening for a Shiner Bock or two… Since I have no plans to wreck, I automatically avoid any resultant disappointment… There is that expense angle, though, but… What the hey, nothing there a few brews can’t render little more than a humorous anecdote…

DDT (12)

[f6john]

You have a real opportunity here! Start including a note in every one of your carry-ons.  Sort of a “note in a bottle” situation where the finder could know a little about the perils of the coddiewomple .

[thedon]

Great read Bruce. Someone's gonna love wearing those chaps if they find the bag.

[The emperor has no clothes]

“What the hey, nothing there a few brews can’t render little more than a humorous anecdote…”



Truer words have never been spoken. 

thedon is probably correct. Someone will likely enjoy those chaps. Hopefully it will be a fellow rider, and not one of the Village People. 

Happy Thanksgiving my friend 

[MotoRod]

If your near Clinton tn,  I got a pair of chaps you can have, but they might rap around a few times... .
Watch the show "The Inside Job"  On HBO.  Your look alike is on there.  Unreal resemblance.  Do you know Charles Morris?
https://play.max.com/movie/16ef1c41-6458-4f61-b29d-e44ee76457c6

[DDT (12)]

Thanks, y'all!

Nope, I've said it many times before: "It ain't always easy, or cheap!, being me, but dangitall, it sure is fun!!!" I left Montgomery in high spirits following the all-thumbs-up from all of my doctors! That sure was a relief... I hadn't expected any gloomy news, but it sure is gratifying to get confirmation and an enthusiastic medical endorsement to continue the coddiewomple!

Whatever you're doing, they all said, seems to be working well for you, so keep it up! Hey, I'm just following doctors' orders here! Seriously, I do think a virtually stress-free life has added time well beyond expectations to the length of this 'story'!

I still find myself with a trace of that old familiar fret-mode, though, because I have no direction or plan of any sort. Yeah, I know things always work out, and any energy, mental or otherwise, expended on that is pure wasted time! Old habits are indeed so very hard to break...

We stopped by to see Troutdude on our way through Louisiana. We enjoyed breakfast together, then he joined us for the ride 'over the bridge' in Baton Rouge. Dang, it's been way too long since he and I have shared some wind, and it felt predictably fabulous to see him in our girl's mirrors those nice and easy 70 miles or so. He has been faced with his own challenges lately, and it is most reassuring to personally observe his energy, optimism, and enthusiasm for life.

It was the following day that I lost that bag... Call it karma or whatever else you might choose, but I firmly believe in the symmetry, harmony, and balance of things in our lives. Loosing that bag when viewed under a microscope appears like an 'aw-shucks' of the first order. Considering everything else that has gone on around it, however, I consider it part of a larger blessing after all! Even that slight fret-mode thing has completely evaporated! This is definitely turning into another '12' experience!!!

DDT (12)

[da prez]

  Bruce , I use bright colored tie downs. It is a visual reminder. If you already do that trick , you may have to hire a load-master. 

                                              da prez

[Valkorado]

Great read Bruce. Someone's gonna love wearing those chaps if they find the bag.

He found them.

[trout dude]

Hey my friend I’m sorry you lost your bag. You tried really hard to get me to keep going with you but I know my limits at the moment. It was great seeing you as always and especially riding with you even if it was only 75 miles    Ride safe my friend and we will ride again soon

[RNFWP]

Bruce, I always enjoy the way you write. Thanks for sharing your insights. Your ability to find and keep your unique perspective is inspirational to ponder on.

[Thunderbolt]

I like the load master idea.......but then you may not have room for the bag.

[Rams]

A good read to a sad situation.   Got me to thinking about the time I lost a shaving kit/bag.  That kit also contained some medications that I really needed to be taking (at the time).  Refilling a prescription on the road ain't all that easy, I don't recommend having to do it.

Then I thought to myself well, if all that baggage was in a tag-a-long trailer, the bike would be naked (except for Bruce) and the luggage would be secure in the enclosed trailer.   I do realize not everyone wants to tow a trailer but, it was just a thought.

Then, I remembered:  I know of a rider that lost a trailer without realizing it.  That rider got lucky and found it on the side of the road several miles in the opposite direction.  So, back to the drawing board.

Rams

[Farside]

  Well sure sorry to hear you lost a bag but a good thing it wasn't a "can't go anywhere situation." Not sure I'd tell on myself like that Bruce.  Dang as much riding as you have done I'm surprised you haven't lost more. I'm kinda impressed with that low number of lost bags.
   Glad you got to visit with Dennis as I reached out to him when I was thru that way a couple weeks ago.
   If that was a senior moment then I guess I just had a Sr. Senior brain fart on Saturday riding back home from Leesburg, GA. Yep, I rode to S. GA for Thanksgiving while the wife drove over a couple days earlier. Long story short she was leaving on Sunday but it was going to rain all day so I left on Saturday. I loaded up her car with Thanksgiving stuff along with my bags and left out. I got home around 3:30. Not in the house 5 min and my wife calls to say check your pockets.  I had her car keys. Yikes does that qualify as a Senior - Senior moment.... Safe travels and tighten up. 

[DIGGER]

Well sure sorry to hear you lost a bag but a good thing it wasn't a "can't go anywhere situation." Not sure I'd tell on myself like that Bruce.  Dang as much riding as you have done I'm surprised you haven't lost more. I'm kinda impressed with that low number of lost bags.
   Glad you got to visit with Dennis as I reached out to him when I was thru that way a couple weeks ago.
   If that was a senior moment then I guess I just had a Sr. Senior brain fart on Saturday riding back home from Leesburg, GA. Yep, I rode to S. GA for Thanksgiving while the wife drove over a couple days earlier. Long story short she was leaving on Sunday but it was going to rain all day so I left on Saturday. I loaded up her car with Thanksgiving stuff along with my bags and left out. I got home around 3:30. Not in the house 5 min and my wife calls to say check your pockets.  I had her car keys. Yikes does that qualify as a Senior - Senior moment.... Safe travels and tighten up. 

Oh boy.....thats a biggie.....best get the spare blankets and pillows out and stash them next to the couch....