Triumphrat

boozefighter · 11-26-2005, 12:42 PM

Well gang, it's been a week since the accident and I'm still typing with one hand. Feeling much better now although the right shoulder is going to require a bit of rehab. Stitches in the face will come out next week and the various scars will join the other creases and valleys on my once handsome mug from a lifetime of boxing, bar room brawling, motorcycling, and 23 years of service in the Marines including stints in two wars. This is the third time I've gone down on a bike in 36 years of riding-I'm 53 now. I'm sure it won't be the last time as I'm really itching to get back on the Triumph as soon as it's repaired and my arm is ready-very soon I hope!!! Was alcohol involved? Yep! Was excessive speed involved? Uh-Huh! Was my judgment clouded? You bet! Would I do it again? Hard to say! Not planning to. I hope not-but you can never tell with a creature of impulse and habit. I'll tell you one thing-I'll be wearing a helmet the next time!! As I've said in the past, there's nothing like a good horsehide jacket-engineer boots-armored gloves-blue jeans-shatter resistant goggles-and a thick skull!! Those are the things that saved my ass that night and all took damage of one sort or another to varying degrees. Some will need to be replaced-others will be displayed in my showcase-especially the ones frayed-shattered-and covered with gore! Many thanks for the kind words of friendship and well wishes from the many outstanding bikeriders on this site. To those who don't agree with certain parts of my lifestyle-let me say-live life to the fullest and don't use me as an example. Now although I won't be on my bike tonight-it's Saturday night party time!!! Ride safe!!! Joe :-D :-D :-D

50yrDream · 11-26-2005, 12:51 PM

Glad to see your post & find that you are recovering! AND that you still have your indomitable(spelling may be off but you knowwhat I mean) spirit!!

MotorTex · 11-26-2005, 01:01 PM

In a world gone PC and limp wristed, its nice to hear a man step up and say what he has to say.

Bear · 11-26-2005, 01:13 PM

Good to hear your up and on the mend..crashing sucks--big time.. I also wish to comment thee for your honesty and intergity about your life style..so many times one gives in to peer pressure, I remain confindent that you will not be doing that for awhile. I hope some day to meet you and shake your hand. :-D

Roadglide · 11-26-2005, 03:08 PM

I'm happy that you are feeling better.
I'll bet your post about tonight's party will be just as interesting as usual even though you are not riding.
(I'm trying to picture a one handed fist fight).

Your lifestyle is your business and I would never question it...until you take it to the road. It then becomes everybody's business. You're actions, now, have an impact on everything from our insurance rates to other people's lives.
Wearing a helmet won't protect an innocent bystander.

It's not PC or limp wristed to realize that riding drunk is a danger to all. At your age and with your obvious intelligence, I hope that you can see this.

Please, don't take this as a personal attack; I've just seen too many good people die because of booze.

Thank you for your service, Joe, Semper Fi.

Bryan · 11-26-2005, 03:13 PM

Glad to hear you and your bike are recovering. Things can get mangled real fast in any accident and the scars are the tell tale signs of life lived to the fullest. My daughter was bit in the face by an excitable dog last summer and we bought some stuff called Mederma to put on the scars. This stuff is made for getting rid of scars and hers are virtually gone now. Maybe if you rubbed it all over your face you could get rid of some of those wrinkles' :-D

[ This message was edited by: Bryan on 2005-11-27 18:00 ]

MotorTex · 11-26-2005, 03:32 PM

Quote:

On 2005-11-26 13:08, Roadglide wrote:

It's not PC or limp wristed to realize that riding drunk is a danger to all. At your age and with your obvious intelligence, I hope that you can see this.

My PC or limp wristed comments was directed to Joe for his standing up and taking responsibilty, recognizing his mistakes, and being honest about them. Sometimes preaching doesnt work. Sometimes real life experiances do.

And I promise, I will never drink and ride.

Anybody with me?

tba-golfer · 11-26-2005, 04:15 PM

I'm with you Tex.

Good to hear a report from you, Booze.

Here's something that has stuck with me for a long time- shows a USA perspective on drink/drive vs. much of the rest of the world. A dear older friend of mine from Scotland was telling me about an acquaintance who had been picked up for D.U.I.
"Just think if ha had hit a young child?"

That's the difference. We think about our own sorry butts, jail, insurance, etc. Most of the rest of the world thinks about the potential consequences of the victims.

Ridge · 11-26-2005, 04:37 PM

I'll second that, roadglide.

Joe, like all your Triumph buddies here, I support you 100% in your recovery and hope you'll be up and running soon. You seem like a good guy with an amazing sense of humor. You also sound like a guy that is way too intelligent to not know what your doing is crazy.

Now that we know your situation, I can't be joining in any more conversations making light of what I hope will be your former practice of drinking and driving. It's just not funny or fun. None of us want to hear about you getting hurt or killed, or God forbid, causing a death of someone else.

Get well soon, buddy.

~Ridge

sharpshooter · 11-26-2005, 05:10 PM

Glad to here from you. Alot of people including myself have been really worried.

And yes what you do is your own affair. But its one thing to hurt yourself, but have you given any thought to maybe hurting someone else.

How would you feel if you ran into a woman and child and hurt them?

PLEASE GIVE YOUR KEYS TO SOMEONE ELSE IF YOUR GOING TO DRINK.

Rick.........................................