[ST] Riding and Risk

["J. Westcott" <westcott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Lisa did a wonderful job of putting down her thoughts on the subject of
motorcycle riding and risks (and the "selfishness" of taking those risks).
I wholeheartedly agree with her comments.

I want to *live* my life, not merely exist a little while longer by avoiding
risks.  Like many my age (mid 40's), I have achieved many of the goals of
the first half of my life (college degree, post-college degree, job, wife,
family, career).  Frankly, there are few things now that get me as excited
as the first day of a motorcycle trip.  Whether it is a weekend trip to
Central Texas, a week trip to Taos, NM,  or a two week trip to Park City,
Utah, I get as excited a kid waking up on Christmas day.  Haven't you
started on a long motorcycle vacation and literally yelled "Yahoo!" inside
your helmet about 100 miles into the first day?  I do it every time because
it fun and I'm on an adventure.  Flying use to do that for me and
motorcycling is as close to flying a jet as anything else you can do on
land.

I once saw a sign in the small airport in Beaumont, Texas where I learn how
to fly, which stated:

"Aviation is not in itself inherently dangerous.  But to an even greater
extent than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness,
incapacity, or neglect."


I submit the same could be said for our wonderful sport of motorcycling.

One thing I would suggest to all motorcycle riders.  Take time out of your
busy schedule to go to church and make sure God is in your life.

John Westcott
Portland, TX

P.S.  Food for thought:  I started flying airplanes and soloed when I was 15
years old.  Would you feel comfortable letting your 15 year teenager drive
your car alone, much less allowing your 15 year old fly around alone in an
airplane?  I was very lucky to have parents that were understanding.

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Lisa Borgfeld White" <wlb@xxxxxxx>


 . . . .
> I have chosen to live my life as fully as I can.  I have my own personal
risk level, as does each of us, and from what I can tell, mine is much
higher than that of my parents and siblings, and most of my other relatives.
As such, I get all sorts of comments from them about my riding, most of
which I choose to ignore, but it is hard to ignore them all.  I can
> tell you that I wish each and every one of my relatives could, just once,
enjoy the feeling of riding North Carolina, the Texas Hill Country, the
Million Dollar Highway in Colorado, the roads of the Western Cape of South
> Africa, Texas World Speedway during a California Superbike School class,
or simply our little "forest road" that is a favorite weekend riding
location.  From my perspective, they do not have a clue as to what they are
missing, and it is so wonderful that I cannot find the words to adequately
explain it to them.
 . . . .
> There are so many quality of live issues here that transcend the
"selfishness" label.  Still, what I think is "quality" may be different from
what you think is quality.  I firmly believe, however, that no matter what
"quality" means for each of us, it is the quality that counts, not the
quantity.  If something were to happen to me tomorrow, I don't want my last
> thought to be "I wish I would have done 'that'. . . . " I don't want ANY
regrets . . . .  And right now, I don't have any . . . .
>
> Lisa
> Houston, TX





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