Next generation

Over the years, all of our children have shown varying degrees of interest in riding motorcycles but none has been as intent as our youngest daughter. "Peekaloo", at 14, is not old enough for a regular license on which to tack an endorsement. But she seeks out - or invents - opportunities to ride with us. Her almost obsessive love of motorcycling led us to give her an old "fixer upper" we'd gotten from a friend. She is now the very proud (trust me!) owner of a 1980 Yamaha 250 Virago Route 66 edition.


This bike needs a LOT of repairs and even more TLC, but Peekaloo is very mechanically inclined, loves motorcycles, couldn't care less about grease stains, and has at least 2 years before she can legally ride it. For her, repairing the bike is a bonus. So now, every chance she gets, she's out in the bright sunshine, working on her baby, getting to know her, and sharing her excitement with us. I'm looking forward to the day I'll have another riding partner. I'll probably have a very hard time keeping up.

Looking back, I'm very glad Dennis convinced me to take that first step and let him get that first bike. It is great to have something we're all keen on. Not that our family is not close, but as children become adults, their interests change. Kids leave the nest, sometimes becoming geographically distant. But I've found out that one never outgrows motorcycles. Sometimes, life changes may stop us riding for a while, but it doesn't stop the shyest of us from striking up a conversation with a total stranger if there's a bike involved. If it can do that, imagine what conversations at our family table - or on Skype - can be like! =D