Thursday, January 18, 2007
Tragedy in Mississippi, A Memory of Jody...
Let me start this post out by saying that I have become friends with a wonderful group of people. These folks are riders and like riders all over are friendly with everyone up to a point. On Saturday, January 6th I went to KJ's to try and hook up with a couple guys I met before departing for the Christmas holiday. I had run into them first at the Waterin' Hole and followed them (in my truck) to a couple other bars along with Donna in her car so we had a little procession going from place to place. Anyway during the evening I mentioned bringing my bike back after the holiday and they said they always meet at KJ's and looked forward to riding together, hence my arrival on Saturday, all leathered up and ready to ride.
There was a guy sitting in the corner of the bar with a group of other folks I had not yet met. He turned to talk to someone and spilled some of his beer in the process. A minute later he turned the other way and, you guessed it, he dumped the rest of his beer on the bar. They got a laugh out of his situation and I looked at him and said, "I hope you ride better than you drink beer!" We laughed and about that time, Ron and Chase came riding up. They went over to the corner and conversed with the group there for a few minutes before noticing me around the other side of the bar. Ron immediately came over hugged me like a long lost brother and said he was looking forward to riding then we went over and he introduced me to the others in the corner. One of them was Jody, the guy who spilled his beer, his oldest son and his wife along with Ron's wife and Chases girlfriend Angela and a couple others. Jody, Chase, Ron and I took off shortly thereafter and rode to a few spots having a great time along the way. Jody's son was on the back of his bike and his wife followed in a chase car with a couple others. We picked up a couple other bikes along the way as it was a beautiful evening for riding. One problem, I'm so bad with names, I'm embarrassed that I do not know everyone's yet. It's funny , or sad, depending on your perspective but these people treat me like we have been family forever and I can't remember a bunch of their names...
Five or six hours later after a few stops for food and drink we were all back at KJ's just chilling out having a great evening listening to a good band, dancing, drinking, planning a ride for the next day at 11:00AM. After a while, maybe 1:00AM some started to depart and I bid everyone goodnight and headed back to the hotel looking forward to a good run the next day.
I got to KJ's the next morning and was met at the door by Larry, I think he's co-owner, and he told me Jody died earlier in the morning, missed a curve, hit a culvert and flew off his bike doing probably 55 - 65 mph. It had happened at about 3:00 in the morning after sitting for a couple hours drinking coffee after his wife and son left in the car. Obviously no ride was going to happen as everyone was taking care of the family and helping to do what needed to be done. Since I had only just met them I stayed away for a bit.
You know, I hardly knew him but he was such a warm open and friendly guy. I'm glad I got to meet him and spend that one evening together. His passing has brought me closer to his remaining friends that brought us together in the first place as we share in the grieving process which leaves kind of a bitter-sweet taste behind for me.
Here is a picture of Jody and family. We are all going to miss you brother!
There was a guy sitting in the corner of the bar with a group of other folks I had not yet met. He turned to talk to someone and spilled some of his beer in the process. A minute later he turned the other way and, you guessed it, he dumped the rest of his beer on the bar. They got a laugh out of his situation and I looked at him and said, "I hope you ride better than you drink beer!" We laughed and about that time, Ron and Chase came riding up. They went over to the corner and conversed with the group there for a few minutes before noticing me around the other side of the bar. Ron immediately came over hugged me like a long lost brother and said he was looking forward to riding then we went over and he introduced me to the others in the corner. One of them was Jody, the guy who spilled his beer, his oldest son and his wife along with Ron's wife and Chases girlfriend Angela and a couple others. Jody, Chase, Ron and I took off shortly thereafter and rode to a few spots having a great time along the way. Jody's son was on the back of his bike and his wife followed in a chase car with a couple others. We picked up a couple other bikes along the way as it was a beautiful evening for riding. One problem, I'm so bad with names, I'm embarrassed that I do not know everyone's yet. It's funny , or sad, depending on your perspective but these people treat me like we have been family forever and I can't remember a bunch of their names...
Five or six hours later after a few stops for food and drink we were all back at KJ's just chilling out having a great evening listening to a good band, dancing, drinking, planning a ride for the next day at 11:00AM. After a while, maybe 1:00AM some started to depart and I bid everyone goodnight and headed back to the hotel looking forward to a good run the next day.
I got to KJ's the next morning and was met at the door by Larry, I think he's co-owner, and he told me Jody died earlier in the morning, missed a curve, hit a culvert and flew off his bike doing probably 55 - 65 mph. It had happened at about 3:00 in the morning after sitting for a couple hours drinking coffee after his wife and son left in the car. Obviously no ride was going to happen as everyone was taking care of the family and helping to do what needed to be done. Since I had only just met them I stayed away for a bit.
You know, I hardly knew him but he was such a warm open and friendly guy. I'm glad I got to meet him and spend that one evening together. His passing has brought me closer to his remaining friends that brought us together in the first place as we share in the grieving process which leaves kind of a bitter-sweet taste behind for me.
Here is a picture of Jody and family. We are all going to miss you brother!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Bringing in the New Year
Went home for a couple weeks over the holidays. Had a good time... Went to Miami for the Christmas night Miami Dolphin game against the NY Jets. It rained from the moment we got there... didn't get to sit in the seats, ended up just hanging out at a concourse bar paying $7.00 for a beer and $8.00 for a single 1 oz shot drink. Ended up back at the hotel by the end of half time and watched the game from the room with a cooler full of drinks. Miami, as usual, lost again. From Miami we went to Stacey's sister and brother-in-law's 5th wheel camper in Okeechobee for a day and then returned to Deland so Stacey could get back to work. We went on a couple rides, some just local hops but went again to St Augustine. It's a nice ride and a good destination.
Stacey and I are having our share of relationship problems. I feel like it's all coming to an end. Nobody's fault really, I love her and she loves me but it just seems like we are drifting further apart. Long distance relationships are difficult at best and it is hard to hold it together. I was thinking of putting a ring on her finger next Christmas but doubt we will make it that long. Not that I'd ever actually marry again...
Anyway, enough whining in my beer... We had a good New Years celebration. Spent it with some friends at a small house party. Just enough people so that there was room for everyone to stay the night.
I got back to Mississippi on Tuesday night and brought my bike with me this time so I'm looking forward to riding this weekend. Maybe I'll finally make it to New Orleans... we'll see.
Stacey and I are having our share of relationship problems. I feel like it's all coming to an end. Nobody's fault really, I love her and she loves me but it just seems like we are drifting further apart. Long distance relationships are difficult at best and it is hard to hold it together. I was thinking of putting a ring on her finger next Christmas but doubt we will make it that long. Not that I'd ever actually marry again...
Anyway, enough whining in my beer... We had a good New Years celebration. Spent it with some friends at a small house party. Just enough people so that there was room for everyone to stay the night.
I got back to Mississippi on Tuesday night and brought my bike with me this time so I'm looking forward to riding this weekend. Maybe I'll finally make it to New Orleans... we'll see.
