A Tour of Duty

I never try to sell you anything on this blog, and only marginally do I even discuss the dealership and it's activities here, but I wanted to make everyone aware of something special that we have going on. 

Not a day goes by at the store that we are not approached by someone asking for our help, sponsorship, participation, and donations for a myriad of charitable events.  Everything from ball team fundraisers to benefits to help someone offset expenses for something and everything in between.  It goes without saying that I operate a retail motorcycle dealership and not a charitable foundation, but we are blessed with the type of business that lends itself to helping with these kinds of things.  We cater to a very charitable segment of society, motorcyclists.  We hold events of all different sorts.  While it is not our sole mission to function as philantropists, we are able to help from time to time and accomplish all of our mutual goals, to be successful in our actual business as well as be able to lend a helping hand and give back to our society.  We are not always able to help with every request as they are so numerous that we simply can't, but from time to time, an opportunity to truly make a difference comes along.  Enter into this picture Mrs Molly Morel and Mrs Cindy Tatum.

I've known these ladies for quite some time as customers of the store.  I am also familiar with their backgrounds and the organization to which they belong.  They are both members of a group called the American Gold Star Mothers.  www.goldstarmoms.com Go check out the website and it will tell you all about the organization, but in a nutshell, they are all mothers that have lost children in the military while serving in active duty.  The name referrences the service flags that began seeing use during the second world war.  Families that had loved ones serving overseas would hang a flag in the window of their home with a blue star, one star for each member of the family that was in uniform.  If a family member happened to lose their life in defense of the country, that blue star would be changed to gold, hence, "Gold Star Mothers".

Anyway.... Molly and Cindy came and saw Tommy and I back around the first of the year with an idea.  They told us that their AGSM chapter was working on a fundraiser that perhaps we could help them with.  They told us about the Fisher House.  www.tennesseefisherhouse.org Fisher House provides free or low cost lodging to Veterans and military families while they receive treatment at military hospitals.  They are very similar in a way to the Ronald McDonald houses that operate in conjunction with Childrens hospitals around the country, a charity that has directly benefited me when dealing with my son's medical conditions.  57 Fisher Houses currently serve our wounded military men and women and their families, though we learned that there was not a Fisher House in Tennessee.  Well, this is where Molly and Cindy "teed up the ball".  The AGSM were helping to raise money to build one in Murfreesboro, to work in conjunction with the VA hospital.  Tommy and I looked at each other and the light bulbs started popping.

What has come out of these discussions is being called "A Tour of Duty", a Passport Ride benefitting the Fisher House. 

Our slogan for this event is "They did their part, now let's do ours".  Here's how the whole thing works.  A passport ride is like a huge poker run, but you'll have about 6 weeks to complete it.  Starting on Saturday, June 30, you can go to any Bumpus H-D location and sign up for the ride.  All it costs to register and participate is $25.  When you register, you will recieve a "Tour of Duty" T-shirt and passport. You can then get the passport stamped.  Then, hop on your bike (or car, we don't care, we just want your participation) as time permits and make your way to all 4 other Bumpus H-D locations (Collierville, Memphis, Jackson, Murfreesboro, and Lynchburg) and fill the book up with all five stamps.  Do all this and get the passport back to us at Bumpus H-D of Murfreesboro by August 18th.  This is when we will have the final culmination of the event.  All full passports will be placed into a bucket and one luck winner of a $2,500 Bumpus H-D Gift Certificate will be drawn.  You need not be present to win, though you'll probably want to be there for the party.  Like I said, $25 per participant is CHEAP!  You get a t-shirt worth the $25 anyway, but also get a chance to win the gift card, but MOST IMPORTANTLY you'll be helping to build this home for these people whom we can never fully repay.  EVERY DIME of your $25 goes to the Fisher House.  We are NOT paying for the t-shirt, passports, or gift card out of this money.  That's all on us, its your duty to come and support the mission.

A Tour of Duty.  Kicking off this Saturday.  C'mon out.  I'll be on the grill flipping half-ass hotdogs again and yep, my little bucket will be hanging on the tent pole and every donation dollar I collect for free hot-dogs will go to support the Tour.  Join me in doing "Our Part" because they sure as hell did theirs.  PS, Mrs Cindy Tatum will be on hand in Jackson signing everyone up.  Be sure to stop in and thank her for "her service" as well.

Call us at the store for any additional info at 731-422-5508 or check us out on Facebook or www.bumpushdjackson.com

Thanks and as always, Ride Safe and with purpose.

Scott

The Secret to a Happy Ending....

It's been a long day at work and I've finally made it home.  While a little bit of Italian sausage simmers in some tomatoes and a glass of wine help calm me down from the day, my thoughts are lost in what lies before me tomorrow....

Saying goodbye to someone is never an easy task.  It is made harder when the bond forged between you is stronger than that with all the others that came before. 

It's been said in song that "the secret to a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits".  That time has come.  I knew that it couldn't last forever.  I've been in this game long enough to know that you'd better enjoy every relationship by soaking in every minute, and maximizing the good days, before they're gone.  And that day always come.

Sweetheart, I put every ounce of effort I had into you, and I can truly say that you were perfect.  Every day, going all the way back to the minute I lay eyes on you.  You were what I'd dreamed of and I had you, all to myself. 

Bright sunshine always turns to beautiful sunsets.  And then the sunset turns to darkness.  How wonderful is the work of God to give us this beauty to escort out the closing of the day.  I too look at our relationship through this lens as our love seemed to grow with each and every day, until the bright blue sky turned its purple hue, and then.... darkness.

Please know, that my love for you never wavered.  I recollect all those moments we spent together.  Solitude and love.  Your curves had become so familiar to me that I could feel you without even touching you.  You dressed like no other and carried a style all your own. 

I always knew you'd catch the eye of another.  My hats off to this man, for he truly has won a prize of prizes.  My only hope is that your future with him carries the same affection and magic that we shared.  I wish you all the best as you disappear down the road with him.... tomorrow. 

You will always be my sweet, Big Red Sled.  And I'll miss you baby.

Now, what to build next...

Ride safe, and with purpose.
SMB

A Letter to The Princess

It seems like forever since I visited you here, but Spring is my prime time.  I've been so busy lately in the business and so focused on my day to day that there frankly just hasn't been any time.  My mind has been off and in the trenches and thus, finding a spark of inspiration for this blog has been more than tough.  But, you know,  inspiration can come from any direction.

Let me begin.

There's always a feeling of melancholy at the end of a road trip.  Reflective thoughts on the miles you've ridden, the places you've been and the people you've met.  There is a bit of sadness that is hard to shake, but also the excited sense of anticipation at what lays ahead, that next trip.  What adventures will it bring? As I write, there is another journey that is coming to an end, and, like road trips, another journey about to begin.

A little over 10 years ago, I found myself making my way through this world as a single father of two little boys.  Through whatever stroke of luck or touch of grace, I met Angie and we began to date.  We had been dating several weeks when we met the "rest" of our collective "package deals".  Hers came in the form of a beautiful little 7 year old girl named Haiden.  Now, keep in mind, I am the youngest of four boys.  Until my nieces came in the late 80's, it had been over 30 years since a girl had been born anywhere in my family.  It's a common joke to say that men know very little about women, but I knew absolutely nothing about little girls.

But here I was.  The relationship between Angie and I grew quickly, as did my fondness for Haiden.  Angie was doing an amazing job as a single mother working two jobs to raise and support her daughter. It was not a long courtship before I fell in love, though I'm not sure which beautiful, blue eyed brunette I fell in love with first.  I think back on the days of playing game cube in the floor with Haiden, and of Bratz dolls and Barbies. Evenings spent sprawled on the couch watching TV, her delicate frame lying on top of me like a blanket.  I am warmed by the thoughts of those nights that I would tuck her into bed.  Picking her up, long legs wrapping around my waist, head on my shoulder as I carried that sweet girl to bed, and covered her with a quilt.  A Scooby Doo video was a must as well as the final words of the night, "Good night sweetheart, I love you."

Angie and I married and the boys came to live with us full time and as such we were able to completely blend our families.  We set off down the road of life. 

By the time you get to read this, one journey for Haiden will come to a close.  My Princess is graduating from High School and will soon begin the next of life's adventures. 

I had sat down tonight to get some of my thoughts about this milestone out in front of me to begin to sort them all out.  I decided to use this blog as the venue for those thoughts.  By the time you read it, I don't know how much I will have changed, or deleted, or just kept between Haiden and I, but....

This is my letter to my Princess...

     I always knew this day was coming. It's hard for me to imagine what life was like before you arrived in it. I had a friend a long time back who also had sons, about the same age as Carter and Brandon. He would always tell me, "Buddy, there's nothing like a daughter". I never completely grasped what he was telling me. It's not that the love one has for sons is any less, but when you came along, it clicked. That love one has for a daughter is different. 

      There was something special about you from the moment I met you. A sparkle in your eyes and an understanding of the world and life that I'd never seen in a child your age. You were smart beyond your own good and wise beyond your years, yet your heart was as tender and affectionate as a baby. It has been such a privilege to watch you grow, to see you change. I think back with fond memory of your passage from childhood into a young lady. You'd become a teenager and with it brought you new challenges as well as new challenges for your mother and I. You learned about life along with us. Parents become accustomed to sleepless nights and worry and we were no exception but you learned from your experiences and learned how to make your way, as well as leave your mark. I watched in loving awe as the cocoon opened and out into the world flew the butterfly.

     Your mother and I have never used the term "step".  There are no "step parents" or "step children" in our home, only parents and children.  I have never looked at you with any eyes other than that of a father who loves every fiber of your being. I've told you before, I might not have arrived in your life until you were seven, but God knows, I got here as fast as I could.  I hope you've always felt the authenticity of my love for you.  I have given you all that I have in my heart and soul and along with your mother, I have done my best to raise you into the splendid young woman you've turned out to be.  Thank you for giving me that chance.  Thank your for accepting me into your life.  Thank you for taking my sons to be your brothers, and for loving them no differently than if you'd been there the day they were born.  Thank you for letting me have the heart of your mother. 


     Thank you for allowing me to stand in the gap for you.....


     And now, here you are.  The great bridge between adolescence and adulthood.  You are focused and prepared to set the world on its ear. I can't wait to see what lies ahead for you.  Whatever it is, you will be excellent at it.  Why shouldn't you be?  You've always been perfect in my eyes. The world belongs to you.  Go and make it a better place, my Princess.  With every breath in my lungs and every beat of my heart, I love you Haiden Leigh. 

I hope all of you will join me in congratulating Haiden Leigh Diffee on her graduation with Honors from South Gibson County High School.  She will continue working at the store in Jackson through the summer until the time that she will pack her bags and move to Murfreesboro to attend college at Middle Tennessee State this fall.  She'll be working for my brother Tom over at the Murfreesboro store.  Y'all stop by and see her before she leaves and breaks my heart again...

Thanks for listening and as always, Ride Safe and with Purpose.

Scott

Doing Something for Dalton...

Ok folks.  I knew I'd end up bringing this topic up at some point soon, but I wasn't exactly sure when.  As I've said, this blog is where I talk about things that are important to me.  They will nearly always revolve around motorcycling, but not today.

Anyone who knows me also knows that my children are the most important things in my world and I'm blessed with three of them.  I hope you've had a chance to meet them at some point along the way.  My youngest is 12 years old and his name is Brandon.  He's my 'rider'.  He loves to go with me any chance he gets.  Last April, I was fortunate enough to get to take a road trip with him as we set out to conquer a few thousand miles and raise awareness of a disease called Cystic Fibrosis.  CF is a genetic disorder that causes the lungs and digestive system to fill with and become clogged by a thick sticky mucus that eventually kills those who have it, generally by respiratory failure. Brandon has it.  Now, when Brandon was diagnosed with the disease at birth, we were told that CF would claim its victim, on average, at 20 years of age.  Now, thanks to the funds raised by organizations like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation ( www.cff.org )great advancements in medicine and treatments have stretched that mortality rate into the 30's, but that still leaves us with no cure.  They are getting closer, but not there yet.  Some time I'll go into greater detail of what life is like for children (and now adults) with CF, but that's not what this post is about.

All this leads me to the news I got this morning.  I was informed that during the night, CF, the disgusting monster that it is, claimed the life of an 11 year old boy in Lexington named Dalton.

I'd not ever had the privilege of meeting Dalton in person, nor have I been able to meet his parents.  All that I know about him and his family is what I've learned through others.  I do know that Dalton's health has been failing rapidly for some time.  I've been told that Dalton has had to make so many frequent trips to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis (the same place I take Brandon for care) that both of his parents have lost their jobs due to taking time off. 

I heard stories this morning of a frantic mother calling the on-call doctor at the CF center and explaining exactly what was happening to Dalton's poor weak body at that very minute and hearing the words on the other end of the phone, instructions to please do the following, "turn off the machine and hold him tightly.  It's time."



I am a CF parent.  Don't think that as I look into his face that I don't see the face of my 12 year old CF'er.  Dalton was the child of all CF parents.  CF parents are not doctors.  We are not scientists.  We can offer care, but not find cures.  We are all helpless at times like this.  There's nothing left to do for Dalton.  He's safe.  Running, laughing, and breathing easy right now, but his parents are left here on this Earth to pick up the pieces.

I've been told that there are some extremely pressing financial issues that are laying at the feet of Dalton's family.  I want to try to help, but I don't know what all of the specifics are. 

All this leads me down to a super simple request.  The weather in Jackson TN is going to be absolutely gorgeous this weekend.  On Saturday the 14th, while you are out enjoying it, I'd like you to come by the store, 326 Carriage House Drive.  There's going to be a guy that looks like me standing our front serving hot dogs off the grill.  You've seen me do it, and yeah, I'm pretty good at it.  As always, they'll be free.  This time though, there will be a little bucket sitting in front of me.  If you feel so inclined, come by and grab a dog and drop a quarter in it.  Maybe a dollar, or ten, or a hundred.  I don't care how much.  Maybe just a prayer for a broken family over in Lexington that could sure use them right now.

Thanks for considering it at least.

Ride safe and with purpose, and do it with Dalton Wallace on your mind.

A Check-In from the Road

I've waited all winter for the season to arrive, and it's finally here. Road trip time. I've said from the get go, this blog is about life, and most importantly, life on a motorcycle. The nexus of motorcycle life to me, is the road trip, a break away from life. A change of scenery. From time to time, I'll offer these small check ins, glimpses of my experiences on a motorcycle.

This trip is a special one, not just because its the first of the year. This is what we call, "The District Ride". I'm joined, not only by my wife Angie and brothers Tim and Tom, and our friends Randy and Susan Yarber but also by several colleagues in the HD business. We do this ride a couple times a year. Joining us is Joey Rock, my HD district manager, and Bill Graham, our field service rep for Harley. Also on the ride are my great friends and fellow dealers, Shad Zimbro from Black Diamond HD, and Bryan and Carolyn Marsh from HD of Jonesboro. Bryan has led us on a magnificent ride through the mountains and foothills of north Arkansas. We've riden along streams and picturesque vistas and drug our foot pegs as we conquered to twisty corners of these "must ride" roads. We made our way to Eureka Springs and The Basin Park Hotel. I'll try to figure out how to post some pictures.

There's no describing what days like this do to clear the mind. The wind is crisp, the roads challenging, and all of the stresses of my week are but fleeting memories.

Road trips. Serenaded by my sound track. All is right in my world.

See you on the road soon.

Ride safe and with purpose.


SMB

A Guest Blog from another Bump on the Road

I think Spring has Sprung....  I actually meant to publish this a couple months back, when we were still in the midst of the cold that it references.  At any rate, I hope you enjoy a few thoughts from my Brother, Tim Bumpus.

See you on the road,
SMB

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As I sit here looking at the rainy and cold weather, I start to get cabin fever.  Although we only have a couple of months before the spring weather starts, it seems like a long time since I could ride in a T-shirt.  I guess the winter weather helps to make you appreciate the warm weather, at least that’s what I keep telling myself. 

I have a new Screamin’ Eagle Electra Glide Ultra ready at home this year and I can’t wait to get the rides started.  I rode the Road Glide last year and really enjoyed it, so let’s see how the ride compares, since they are both great riding bikes.

As I think about what rides I will be doing this year, I can’t help but reminisce about the trips I rode last year.  We took a 3 day trip through Arkansas with stops in Eureka Springs, down to Ozark Arkansas, Hot Springs, and then home.  For anyone who thinks you have to ride for days to get a change of scenery, you should take this trip.  There are some great scenic roads with hills and curves, and some unique towns along the way.  The “Pig Trail” is an especially scenic  motorcycle ride.

Probably the best trip I have taken in a few years is the ride to the Grand Canyon I made this past June.  We had about 15 people with us and had a great ride.  The idea was to ride straight out to Sedona AZ, with a little side trip to Raton New Mexico, to visit one of the Robilios.  We spent three days in Sedona and just toured the area.  If you have never been there, this is a must do trip.  To get to Sedona, you must go down the Oak Creek Canyon out of Flagstaff.  This is probably one of the prettiest 25 mile roads I have ridden.  We also made visits to Prescott, to visit the old western bars, to the mining town of Gerome, and the surrounding towns.  We also spent one day at the Grand Canyon.  It is amazing how an erosion problem thousands of years ago can make a magnificent view today.  Pictures cannot do it justice.

We decided to leave one day early to make a ride through Monument Valley.  With the dust devils blowing through there and the tumbleweeds everywhere, I felt like we were in the Wild West, only on iron horses.  From the back roads to the Bar-B-Que Spam we had along the way, it certainly was a memorable trip.

I can’t wait to plan the trips I will be making this year, but I know it will be fun and adventurous on my new Ultra.  The bike nights are fun and the poker runs give you a chance to see friends throughout the day, I love the road trips the most. 

Everyone ride safe this year, and enjoy your motorcycle in your own way,

Tim

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Thanks Tim.  I love ya.   Y'all go see Tim over in Memphis whenever you get the chance.

SMB

Characters

In my previous entry to this blog, I hung my head in shame for not taking advantage of the unseasonably warm winter weather to take a ride on my day off.  No such chance today.  I was not and did not let this day get away from me.  I didn't have all day today, but I did get close to a hundred miles in.  I love my Mondays.  Everything looks different when you conduct your "Saturday activities" on a Monday.  I think its probably because the biggest chunk of "regular society" is off the grid at work.  What's left out there is worth taking note of.  We clipped up the road, heading north up into Carroll County.  I took note of a man sitting in a folding chair out in his front yard, shirtless, catching a few rays.  Now, keep in mind, it's pretty today, but not necessarily what I'd consider "sun bathing" weather.  Nonetheless, there sat this soul, soaking in the rays, probably for the first time since the cool air began to arrive back in the fall.  I could see him from a hundred yards off or so as we approached, and he saw us as well.  Forward in his chair he leaned, waving his arm at us as hard as he could, his smile easily visible as it shone through his grey beard.  Happiness poured from him in that moment.  I found him to be nothing short of fascinating.  I have no idea what his name was and have never met the man in my life, but he was interesting. A Character.

Now, when I say "character" I am not referring to "ones character" or what, as Websters defines as "Character-The aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing".  I'm using the word "character" to describe someone.  To me, a character is someone that stands out from the crowd, a true 'individual'.  Now, I don't mean goofball, as that describes a completely different type of person, though the worlds 'characters' are sometimes made up of goofballs and weirdo's, but also geniuses and saints.  Characters add color to the world.  Characters make the world interesting and make life exciting.  Without meeting him or knowing anything about him, something told me that the "Shirtless Waver of Hwy 70" was a character, someone that had a story to tell.

We stopped in today at one of my favorite West Tennessee destinations, the Hampton's Store, right in the middle of Downtown Skullbone Tennessee.  The Hampton's Store is the classic "General Store" where you can get all of your "Skullbone TN" merchandise, plus a couple quarts of oil, a bottle of coke, some BC powders, a toy tractor, and a box of shotgun shells, all pretty much within arms reach of each other.  The store is, and always has been run by Mr Landon and Ms Ruby Hampton.  While there, Ms Ruby whipped us up a couple of her famous bologna and salad dressing sandwiches, on white bread, of course.  The perfect dinner when accompanied by a bag of Toms potato chips and a coke, or "Co-Cola" as my grandmother called them.  Mr Landon is one of the world's great "characters", and one of my favorites.  He and Ms Ruby could easily own one of the million cookie cutter "convenience stores" that sit on every corner of the world, selling the same old "Starbuck-esque" lattes and fountain drinks, and perhaps even one of the bland, pre-packaged ham sandwiches that sit sappily in the walk in fridges waiting for someone to take them home.  But no, they run this absolute gem in the rough.  Characters.

Characters don't do things the way the rest of society does.  Thank God for that.  The world needs characters.  We're not all characters and that's ok too.  The world needs us both, but its the characters of the world that make things fun, that add depth and color to our lives.  Characters don't necessarily adhere to the rules as they pertain to fashion, or order, or symmetry, as the rest of the world dictates.  The "normal" world doesn't always know what to do with characters or what to make of them.  Characters are often ridiculed for being different.  Often judged long before anyone knows anything about them, just for "not being right", in their eyes.  Let's take the waver.  Many might see an otherwise "able bodied" man sitting in his front yard on a "work day" and label him as lazy at best, or crazy, a loser at worst.  Why?  Do we know what his motivation is?  Perhaps the man is an entrepreneur.  A designer, an artist... Perhaps a veteran, retired from a life of service.  Perhaps he's like me and just taking a day to not work.  "But, why was he waving, and shirtless to boot?".  That didn't fit the mold.  That's where characters live, where the mold doesn't fit.

I love the business I'm in.  I get to see characters every day.  Good ones.  Productive members of society, managers and labor, landowners and field hands, engineers and artists.  The people I interact with day in and day out come from every corner of humanity, "normal" to "uh...wow".  I'm so fortunate to get to meet the great characters of the world, both as customers, but also as colleagues.  Some of my mentors in this business are characters.  I've mentioned Click Baldwin before in this blog, perhaps the greatest character that the Harley dealer network has every known. 

I'm so thankful for getting the chance to ride today.  And thankful for the characters that I came across.  Take my advice, drop your guard and open your eyes and pay attention to the characters.  You need them.  An "old friend" once told me, "You get more attention burning down the barn than you do taking out the trash."  Indeed.

Ride Safe, Ride Often, and Ride with Character.

SMB