Therapy.. and I don't mean group therapy

by Linda
(Kingwood, TX)

Sooo many reasons! Have always wanted my own bike since the late 70's, when I first started riding (on back of the ex's Superglide). But, knowing how much I LOVED riding, I put off having my own while I was raising my kids, then the children of my 3rd husband (yes, it's the charm ;). I knew I would be frustrated being torn between responsibilities and riding time (which would have been limited). Just wait, I told myself...and I waited some 20+ years.

Finally, at age 49, I bought my own. The first was a Sportster I got cheap thru a friend. Great! I was riding again. But I sure didn't care much for that 883L. One day, my current husband (he'd bought a bike for himself) and I took a ride out to Beaumont, TX to Cowboy Harley Davidson. I wanted a T-shirt from the shop, thinkin' it would have some great Marlboro Man on a Harley image to sport. Well, they had some used bikes for sale...I fell in love with the Fatboy I own now, and rode it home. Hubby said that was the most expensive t-shirt he ever bought :)

I say it's the least expensive therapy on the market. When I ride, I am sorting through my life, my experiences, my needs and desires, the blessings life has afforded me. And I get to do this against a most beautiful Texas backdrop, no matter the time of year, for just the price of a few tanks of gas. Depending on the hubby's schedule, he'll ride with me, but mostly I ride alone. Just start the day headed in any direction, turn right or left on a whim, keep going, get sorta "lost", but know all roads go somewhere and most will get me back home..eventually..when I'm ready to call it a day. It's an all-day thing, usually.

Dunno.. there's just nothing like it, for me. For certain, you'll never see my Fatboy parked at a therapist's office. Would be a waste of ridin' time.

All in all.. I ride because I LOVE TO RIDE. MY OWN. MY TIME. MY JOURNEY.