In My Brain (As I Ride)

Preface

There is a magic about road trips, one that is difficult to describe to those who have never travelled by motorcycle.  There is a strange separation from consciousness that occurs when your senses are overridden by the sound of the motor and wind across your ears.  The next few posts are snippets, same day when possible, of what happens in my world when covering miles the way God intended.  By motorcycle.

August 28, 2012

10:30 AM

“You will miss sunrise, if you close your eyes.  And that would break my heart in two….”—Townes Van Zandt

On the road at an abandoned gas station just north of Fulton KY and listening for that drone of engines that tells me that the group is approaching.  This place brings back so many memories for me.  As I said, it’s a filling station from yesteryear that has obviously been bought by someone with the same desire for authenticity as I.  He has renovated it into a sort of adult toy box.  I’ve stopped in this gravel parking lot what seems like hundreds of times.  I’m literally just across the border from Tennessee and this is the spot where we used to stop to remove our helmets before the trek north into Kentucky and Illinois, back in the days when I would ride lidless.  Memories of my old friend Blake, and his friendship that he forged with a stray basset hound that once hung around the place.  Tips of a nasty plastic bottle of Kentucky Tavern before our foray with old pals. 

This trip finds me riding back to Milwaukee with the Memphis MVP group.  For a Harley rider, the trek to Milwaukee really never gets old and the MVP Old Milwaukee trip caries a feeling all of its own.  I’m looking forward to experiencing it all again with this new group of folks that, at this point, really don’t know what lies ahead of them.  I had breakfast in Medina this morning with Angie and Haiden before she headed back to school.  I was fortunate to have the rare opportunity to close my mouth and open my ears and a good lesson was learned.  Parents, stop trying to constantly ‘fix’ your children and learn to listen to them .  Good advice Princess, thank you.

The drone approaches…

12:30 PM

Great feature of the bike I’m riding, the iPod interface.  I can plug my iPod into a harness in the saddlebag and control it through the regular controls on the handlebars.  I find that  the correct playlist is an irreplaceable ally on a trip by bike.  My own personal soundtrack and it has not let me down today.  It sings to me, it is my companion and drives my thoughts as the miles pass. 

“I’m gonna live forever.  I’m gonna cross that river.  I’m gonna catch tomorrow now.”—Billy Joe Shaver

Stopped for ‘dinner’ (Hold on to Southern colloquialisms for they are dying) at The Blue Boar between Jonesboro and Cobden Illinois.  It is an out of the way place that I found with the recommendation of my friend and great American character, Shad Zimbro.  Shad is one of my mentors in the Harley-Davidson business.

Anyway… Many places are referred to as ‘biker friendly’ and you can assign any definition to that which you wish, but in my book, it is the pinnacle of ‘biker friendly’.  Not that it’s a “biker bar” or anything like that.  It doesn’t have the finest amenities for motorcycle parking, unless you are the type that digs gravel parking lots, but where it shines is in its character and personality.  I’ve talked so many times about ‘character’ and ‘characters’ and their importance in life.  NEVER EVER BLEND IN and the Blue Boar doesn’t.  It is a diamond in the rough.  In a world of cookie cutter eateries with the same old worn out menu, the Blue Boar is built upon incredible hospitality, inviting atmosphere, beautiful scenery, and great food.  If ever in Southern Illinois, don’t miss it.

We continue to make our way north through Illinois.  These are familiar roads to me.  Highway 127 north from Jonesboro toward Murphysboro.  How many times have I ridden this road through my youth.  As many of you know, I attended college at the nearby Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and this was one of my getaway routes on the old FXR that I spent many ‘formative miles’ on.  One of the great things about this road is that it literally hasn’t changed in 20 years.  Nothing about it has.  The scenery is exactly the same.  Who is intrigued by time travel?  Who isn’t?  Well, I tell you what… Today was a trip back in time.  Today as I careened my machine through the twisty curves I was 20 years old again, taking a quick break from the guts of the WSIU-TV edit suite that I spent countless hours of my life. 

“Look out here she comes, she’s comin… Look out there she goes, she’s gone….”—Guy Clark

That lyric, that was us.  My best friend, Eric Jones and I as we carved out our place in the world, just as we carved the corners of that magical road. 

Death took Eric from me right before we graduated, but today he was there with me again…. Smiling face, flat top haircut, ’79 model worn out, piece of shit, smoke billowing, oil spraying, Harley-Davidson Sportster riding gem of my youth.

“The Ghost has got me runnin…”-Whiskeytown

More on him some other day, some other blog.

Springfield Illinois tonight and tomorrow on to Milwaukee.  Good Night.

Ride safe, and with purpose.

A Birthday Present for Me.

Through my ramblings or by coming into the store or even some other connection of family or friendship you have with me, I'd suspect you've come to know a bit about the person I refer to as "My Princess."

http://abumpontheroad.blogspot.com/2012/05/letter-to-princess.html

Today she turns 18 years old.  A childhood finished and a life as an adult emerges.  I remember turning 18.  It didn't seem like much of a big deal to me then, in fact, the only thing I distinctly remember doing was registering for the draft.  So much for that.  I told her earlier today that really the only thing that would really be different today as compared to yesterday is that she could go to jail.... What a motivational speech that was, but anyway.

Our days of having Haiden at home are fast whittling down.  In less than two weeks she'll be gone, off to school and whatever else lies ahead, leaving me here with two boys that don't yet know how much they are going to miss her and her mother, whom I'm fairly sure I'll have to put on medication.  She'll be moving up to Murfreesboro to attend college (on a full academic scholarship, I might add) and will be working for my brother up at BHD in the Boro.  I'm so excited for her but I dread the silence from that first room up the stairs on the left and that empty hole in my heart that she still fills every day with her sweet kisses upon my cheek.

But..... This week, I have a treat coming to me. 

When I graduated from High School, the greatest gift I received from my Dad was the opportunity to accompany him on a motorcycle road trip.  We covered about 4000 miles together over the course of a week or so traversing the Rocky Mountains and the Great American Plains.  To call it a trip I'll never forget is an understatement.  It was one of the formative periods of my life, one that I don't go more than a day or two thinking about. 

My treat this week is that the Princess and I will be setting out on a motorcycle adventure of our own.  I'm so excited about it I can hardly contain it.  I try to read her thoughts on it to see a glimpse of that excitement, but I remember being in her place. This is new to her and as I remember myself, I didn't have any idea the magnitude of what lay before me.  I just hope that I can make next week as memorable for her as it undoubtedly will be for me.  Just like my Dad did.

Your prayers and well wishes will be greatly appreciated as we strike out Monday Morning.  Those who plan to to the passport ride to Lynchburg and Murfreesboro will be accompanying us on that first leg.

Happy Birthday Princess, and thank you in advance for this wonderful gift to me.

I'll keep y'all posted as the opportunity presents itself.

Ride Safe, and with Purpose.

SMB

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