But let's catch up. When we last touched bases, Tiger Woods was in the hot seat and had decided to "take some time off" from golf. I judged that a mistake at the time and I believe what has transpired since has proven me correct. Now Tiger is back [minus his wife and untold millions] and his game is not what it used to be. He will be ridiculed wherever he goes and that will probably only make his game worse. Some will say he deserves all of this, and perhaps he does, but I think it is mostly the result of bad decision making. Sadly, Tiger was probably just doing what he was told by his advisors.
But what have I been up to since January? Well, since you asked, besides working at a feverish pace to keep up with my company's demands, I have gotten into motorcycles. I bought my first bike about a year ago. It was a 500cc Kawasaki Vulcan. I used this as a starter bike since it was still a big step up from the 250's I rode during my MSF training. A few months later, I felt I was ready for something a bit more powerful, so I traded up for a 2009 Yamaha V Star 950. I rode that bike up until just a few weeks ago. It's a beautiful bike but not an all out power bike like I ultimately wanted. The V Star is what is referred to as a cruiser. These are nice and very cool, but built more for comfort than performance. I wanted something with some real power, but was not ready to totally sacrifice comfort. Then I found the Yamaha FJR 1300. One of my close friends has one of these so I was able to take a closeup look at it some time ago. It's a perfect blend between sport bike and cruiser. It is classified as a sport tourer because it has the power of a sport bike yet is comfortable enough for long outings and can also accommodate luggage. Well, I realize this is not a motorcycle enthusiast site, but I mention motorcycles for a reason. Since I've started riding I've noticed something. When you bring up the topic, or just show up somewhere on a bike, most folks immediately want to tell you graphic stories about a relative, friend or acquaintance that was involved in an accident. Usually when I encounter these people I am on my bike, and don't really want to hear such things at that particular moment. But my ultimate point is this. It seems many people live their lives based on fear. They've been told motorcycles are dangerous, so they believe motorcycles are dangerous, and they will not even consider riding them. Now, if you are involved in an accident on a motorcycle, I freely admit that your chances of survival are not nearly as good as if you were in a car. That's why motorcyclists have to be more responsible and aware of their surroundings. They should also always wear complete protective gear instead of just the [usually] mandatory helmet. But it is my opinion that a life lived in fear is a life poorly lived. As with all things, balance is the key. Risk should be balanced with reward and fear should be balanced with fun. If you want to be completely safe, then just barricade yourself in your home with a gun. That should protect you from all except perhaps the police and the IRS. But it probably won't be very much fun and I doubt it will offer any rewards either. In summary, bikes are obviously not for everyone, but don't let fear be the main factor in any of your decisions. Life can be either an adventure or a drag. It's your choice.
The Economy:
It has been said that this is the worst economy since the Great Depression. I don't doubt that, but the thing is, most of us today didn't live through that difficult period of American history. In fact, with the exception of the horrific September 11th 2001 World Trade Center attacks, most contemporary Americans [myself included] haven't lived through any serious national or international crisis. When I was in the military, I had to learn to live and sleep in simulated combat zones. That meant constant gun fire, mortar explosions and sonic booms caused by F-14 flyovers. Whenever I wasn't on watch duty, I needed to fit some sleep into my day [or night]. At first, I could never get any sleep, especially since we were sleeping outside and in jungles where it was often raining. But eventually the very same things that used to unnerve me became routine and I was sleeping perfectly. The point here is that this economy scares us because we haven't seen anything like it before. It should probably serve as a warning [in my opinion] for this country to get back to our core beliefs. Chief among those is our God-fearing roots. I realize many in todays America don't necessarily acknowledge God, but America always has and must continue to do so, while at the same time respecting the rights of others who may choose to worship differently or not at all. I love America. We are not perfect, but I do believe we still strive to be. We have survived hard times before, and we will survive this period too. But I do hope we learn from it and return to the roots that made America the envy of the world.
As I write this, I am watching the NFL's opening weekend, and Michael Vick is doing it big for Philadelphia and might just pull it out against Green Bay. That means we'll have to pick this up later. I know there are folks out there reading this who never post comments and I want to say "thanks!" With me, however, it's all about dialog, so please do post your comments. If you agree with me [rare] that would be fine, but it's even more interesting when you don't, as long as you tell me why.
In conclusion - I was sitting at a red light while out riding my bike earlier today. It was a nice clear day here in the ATL and I saw the American flag waving majestically in the wind. Folks, all I can say is that I was captivated and hated it when the light turned green and I had to move on. As I said earlier, I love America. I'm not ashamed to say it. Even at our worst, we are still great. I hope you feel the same way, but if you don't let's talk about it.
Until next time, may God be with you.
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