A small story. I try to post it every winter to remind

me of my wife. Sort of a tribute to her.

In My Mind

I look out the window and all in view is a bleak Indiana winter landscape. Even though the winter is still in its infancy, it is a grownup in its intensity. The streets are covered in ice, the wind is blowing, the thermometer hasn’t made up its mind as to whether it should go up or down. and its not a fit day to be out.
The Valkyrie is hibernating for now with a battery charger ensuring a steady stream of electrons for the day that the Valk is called upon to awaken. For now, the Valkyrie is content to rest.

Rest is also what I should do. However, I cannot. My mind is restless. I wonder, could it be possible to go back in time and relive events of my youth but change my personal history to better suit my dreams. Yes, it is possible. In My Mind.

It is the summer of 1956. I am on my Valkyrie, Emanuel. My dear wife, Phyl, is once more with me, her with the wonderful blue eyes, freckles, and youthful figure is on the back hugging my waist. I am no longer Solo 1 for, you see, my wife is riding with me. Gone are all her ills that troubled her in later years, gone are all her inhibitions about riding , and she is once again the youthful girl and love of my life. As if that’s not enough, I also have enjoyed a magic transformation. My left knee once again does my bidding, my right wrist is pain free, and all the anxieties and depression of my later years have disappeared as I return to the joy of being 27 again. In My Mind.

The Valkyrie senses our mood. The chrome adorned flat six engine rumbles contentedly as we motor east on Highway 2 along the north shore of Lake Michigan. The weather is perfect, not a cloud in the sky with a temperature of 70 degrees and a cooling breeze blowing onshore from the south. We are riding past a long stretch of sand dunes between the lake and gently undulating highway Two. There are occasional tendrils of sand intruding on the road but they present no problems to my reacquired youthful confidence and skill. The deep blue waters of Lake Michigan beckons but our thirst for contentment is satisfied by the heady aroma of pine trees , the wind past our bodies, and the willingness of the steed under us to do our bidding. In My Mind.

The wonderful purr of the flat six engine is both reassuring and soporific and the combination of both feelings creates a sense of appeasement, In My Mind.

We continue on. Ahead is a series of curves, unusual for this highway. However, Emanuel is up to the task and so am I. The purring rumble of the Valk approaches a snarl as I downshift and twist the throttle as we enter the curves, my wife holding me ever tighter but welcoming the rush. We continue on, the Valks engine settling back to a quiet rumble once again. We are enjoying the rhythm of the road with the sparkling waters of Lake Michigan to our right. Soon, too soon, we are through the curves and ‘way ahead on our right, we can see Big Mac beckoning to us. This graceful and beautiful six mile long bridge over the straits, bridging the gap between the lower and the upper peninsula of the Wolverine state and with the Great Lake of Huron on one side and the Great Lake of Michigan on the other, has always been a welcome sight. The ride marked by an absence of other vehicles, has been rewarding. The memories, newly minted, are exquisite but bittersweet. Overall a joyful experience. In My Mind.

The Mind is a wonderful gift and it can uplift us even in the bleakest times.

So all of you out there who are suffering from the effects of this, the Winter of 2007, take a ride, take a trip, create good memories, and ponder on them,

All this is possible, In YOUR Mind

*************************************************************************

Phyllis Doenges 1933-2002

Solo1