In the movie One Week our hero finds out he has cancer. Aggressive cancer that has the doctor casting about trying to sound positive but instead comes across as the grim reapers younger wannabe side kick. So what does Ben do? He buys a vintage Norton motorcycle and ventures out on a meaning of life ride across half the country instead of jumping into treatment. Romantic? Noble? Important? Yes to all those I think. I don't know many guys that haven't thought about the open road, not only as an escape but as a way of discovery. Shit has to happen to you for you to learn from it...plain and simple. I've thought about it, before the cancer diagnosis even, there is a romanticised version of life out there, just waiting to be discovered if you would only get on that bike and ride. Ride dammit ride!!! I'd love to have a bike and I hope to in the future. Right now the almighty dollar, or lack there of, and the lack of vision in my left eye are stopping me.....sigh
And before my mom calls me to hit me over the head with a wooden spoon through 2000 km of space or my daughter blinds me permanently as a way of clipping my wings, I'm not talking about the crotch rocket, I'm more of the cruiser kind of guy...that Norton looks like my type of ride actually. I even like those Russian side car type bikes...told you I was old school. Scott has a Ducati and while it is a beautiful bike and stupid fast 100% for sure I would be dead on one of those. For me it's not about the speed it's about the journey and being "free". Truth be told I would feel similar in a car, like a BMW Z3 with the top down, but a bike is that much more visceral...maybe some day.
Having read some of my other posts you may be asking yourself why am I still alive and are you fucking crazy, a bike? You? Why don't you hold this stick of dynamite for me while I grab a match? I've wondered myself how I have managed to live this long, seriously. Save for a few exceptions barely a scratch on me considering what I have done. Maybe a charmed life, a cats life, God watches over drunks and fools...whatever it is it does seem like I've avoided meeting the grim reaper in person despite numerous close calls. I don't have a death wish I just wish to live my life, so if that means exploring the Azores or bungee jumping off a bridge or riding my scooter around the peninsula, I'm going to do it if it feels right.
I've been thinking a lot about Gord Downie the past few days, his tragic and heroic plight as he battles brain cancer mounting one last tour of this great country. I'm not going to any shows but I will find a place to watch the final show at a public gathering as my way of saying farewell. He'll be missed, the Hip's music has a played in the background for over 20 years in my life, and while I like them well enough, like Blue Rodeo, you don't realise how good they are until you stop to actually listen and appreciate their body of work. The other night I watched a bit of the opening ceremonies from the Rio Olympics and in the run up to the show CBC had a montage designed to make you tear up and celebrate life. It worked with me at least, so job well done. There was a little clip of Downie and he said this "and with my voice I will give you the confines of my heart". Fuck....that is the same freedom that you get from riding, here it is world...take what you will, do what you must, I'm unfettered by your walls and notions.
A death wish? No my friends, I do not wish to die. There's too much to see and do, explore the world and the reaches of my heart. Please sir, can I have some more.
Ciao
D
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