Monday, March 3, 2008

Birthday Memories '08


This weekend was my birthday and I celebrated, of course, by taking a motorcycle ride. The sun was out but it was cool, in the 40’s. As each year goes by, I become closer to the person I really want to be. This year was a milestone for me, one I wish I could have avoided. The reality was that I was going to enjoy my life from here on out, which means taking chances and doing things that are difficult, so I can be a better person for it.

Motorcycling has become the go-to activity for solving all of my anxieties. I was having a hard time just a couple of weeks ago with my mood and winter being so awfully long. But since then the sun has come out every few days and my mood and life in general is looking pretty good right now. This also ties in with the fact that I’ve ridden my motorcycle on every one of those nice days. It’s still been almost too cool to enjoy the ride, but once I get out it is all forgotten and worth enduring the elements.

With Dave on the Victory and myself on the Vulcan, we headed out towards Fall City where we had gone before and enjoyed the scenic ride. We got as far as Issaquah, a town near the base of the Snoqualmie pass and I-90. We stopped at one of the last XXX Root Beer drive-ins left in the states, and the only one left in the Northwest. We both had a big icy mug of the creamiest root beer and some fried mushrooms dipped in ranch dressing. I said I was living dangerously!

We had a nice ride back routing around Lake Sammamish. The water had shiny ripples moving smoothly across, reflecting the blue and gray clouds above. My idiot gas light went on for the first time and I panicked. I wasn’t sure how far I could go after the light went on, and I didn’t really know where we were. It was kind of out in the country. I signaled to Dave and we eventually found a gas station. The calm that came over me once I gassed up was amazing. I am finding myself to be really high strung while riding my motorcycle. I worry a lot. I’m learning things about myself I never have experienced before. Once I had a full tank, the Zen calm came back to my ride.

When we got home there was just enough time to clean up and get ready to go out for a birthday dinner with my son and daughter-in-law. I made sure we didn’t go anywhere with a ‘senior’ menu.

16 comments:

--xh-- said...

happy b'day to u.. :-D what an apt way to celebrate the b'day than taking a relaxing ride :-D may you live long to enjoy more miles of calm and cool riding... :-)

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday!

Lady R (Di) said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKY! And many more to come. Take birthdays in and enjoy them immensely! I had an elderly gentleman tell me once, "When you quite having birthdays, you've got a REAL problem! I'm getting ready to post a blog about riding motorcycles being great therapy. Check it out if you have time. Remember, you need to hang your worry hat on the hook when you put on your helmet. ENJOY! Ride on, ride worry free! Lady R.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! Sounds like you found a great way to spend the day. I wish you many, many more (full of riding!).

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday!

irondad said...

Katie and I were also enjoying a root beer while on a ride Sunday afternoon. Our stop was at an original A & W. Not one of those combination fast food places. Happy Birthday, although strange things do come with new birthdays. Glad you avoided the Senior Menu. We recently went to a cat show. The lady taking the money asked if we were over 50. Must have been obvious. First time I got a discount because of age!

Keep exploring out of your comfort level. Just remember to take small steps as you do so!

Take care.

Ronman said...

Happy Birthday to you pretty lady! I reach a major milestone birthday myself in a couple weeks........I only hope I can celebrate mine riding too. Something tells me I'll be riding in a freight truck for the biggest part of it though. Oh a little tip for you. I carry a length of about 5 feet of clear plastic tubing coiled up with me just in case I or anyone with me run out of gas. You can always syphen enough to get you to the next fuel stop. I ran out once on the Natchez Trace.......that wasn't a good feeling.

Ride Safe

Ronman

Crusty said...

Happy B-Day Becky! After a few big ones you come to realize that this part of your life is the best!
-Ride on my friend

"Joker" said...

Happy Birthday Becky.

Looks like you two had a nice ride to celebrate. Don't worry about the b-days piling up on you...just do like Jack Benny used to. He told everyone he was 39 for about 30 years!

Becky said...

xh-, chuck, ladyridesalot, Liz, Rick, irondad, ronman, crusty, joker: Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. It's been good so far, and I can see this is going to be a great year of riding.

Bikerchickz

Lucky said...

Happy Birthday!

bikerted said...

Belated birthday greetings Becky. Sounds like you had a great time. Ian is getting close to a milestone birthday himself and as they say over here "Life begins at 40", so next year Ian claims he will be 10!
I've often heard of root beer but what is it made from and what does it taste of?
Keep the wheels turning.

Ted

Becky said...

Lucky: Thanks for the wishes.

Bikerted: It's great to get so many birthday greetings. I may have another one next year after all. I don't know what root beer is made of, but it is a very sweet soda and has a unique taste. It is almost always served in a very icy mug......mmmmmmm

Bikerchickz

One Harley Rider said...

Happy Birthday, I like your sight. How did you get the ads to appear on your blog? Did you link with them?

Anonymous said...

happy birthday! Are you a Pisces too?

Linda

Becky said...

One harley rider: Thanks for the birthday wishes. I left a comment on your blog about ads.

Linda: Why yes, yes I am. I've always wanted the stereotypical Koi tattoo. Happy birthday to you too.

Bikerchickz