Defining Moments

Every one of us has experienced a moment that changed your life’s direction. Many moments like that are scattered throughout your life. Sometimes you know when it happens, that things will be different.

Other times, you don’t realize it until you look back.

When I was little, I remember my dad had two vintage motorcycles. One, a BSA. The other, a Triumph.

They were beasts to me. I was little enough that I couldn’t have picked either of them up if I had knocked them over. Luckily, they stayed upright when I climbed on when Dad was at work.

When Dad started them up, they roared to life. Belching out smoke, sputtering, and making the concrete floor of the garage shudder under my feet.

The deafening roar was made even louder in the garage, So loud it made me cover my ears at first. And of course, with any motorcycle, you have to rev it up a few times.

I was so small that dad had to help push my foot down on the kick starter to get the motor to turn over. I started it up, like bringing the beast back to life.

I didn’t know it at the time, but that was one of those defining moments in my life.

I was obsessed with motorcycles and soon got my first one. A Honda Trail 70. My first taste of speed on my own. And a little bit of freedom.

I went flying up the yard from the highway. Wide open and out of control. The handle bars started going back an forth. Wider and wider. I couldn’t stop it…