Bessie and Me: Shifting Gears

There was just enough ‘Winter’ in the air to warrant medium weight leather Saturday morning. Bessie is always frisky when the cooler weather sets in, its tough to hold back the throttle when the wind is stinging your face and invigorating your soul! Destination: Zephyrhills Car Festival and the Carlise Classic Car Auction. Yes…Paul is still looking for that ’66 Mustang. Sometimes I think just the process of looking for it is more fun than owning it perhaps. It is only a 60 mile ride - even for someone who takes all the backroads - but we needed coffee to ward off the chill halfway into it. Call me a ‘wuss, but the cold just bites right through me anymore; if it is below 70, I’m freezing.  Just off 39S and 301 lies a huge open field known as ‘Festival Park,’ this morning the dust rose above the fallow fields, signaling our arrival at the Carlise Car Auction. I followed the antique pick up truck in front of me, past the vendor entrance to the general admission entrance. Al...

Labor Day Weekend_2014 There is a reason educators have a three day weekend only two weeks after school starts and this educator doesn’t mind admitting that my new job is kicking my ass.  I needed time in the saddle to gain a fresh perspective that only the ‘thumpthumpthump’ of my Harley Davidson and the wind in my face can provide. I planned a trip for ‘somewhere I’ve never been,’ and as my niece Kiley likes to say, ‘Gee Aunt Debi, you’ve been everywhere.’ I remind her no, ‘but its on my list!’  Paul has not cruised too many Florida backroads so any direction I take him is fine (which is yet another reason we get along so well).  I chose the interior of Florida because I just didn’t want to spend half the weekend sitting in beach traffic and decided I had never spend too much time in and around Ocala.  The other draw was the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing; both Paul and I are race fans - consider it the need for speed - and I have driven by the museum...

Me and Ruby Summer riding in Florida requires an asbestos ass and a liberal quantity of sunblock. We dusted off the bikes and slathered on the sunblock over the weekend to cruise a little over three hundred miles this weekend….we had the need to put our knees in the breeze, regardless of the heat and humidity. An early start helps; put on the miles while the temps are still in the ’80’s and the rain is forecast for late afternoon. Saturday we headed to Hillsborough and Hardee county. From our house it is easy to hit the backroads within ten minutes of leaving home. Secluded roads wind through the orange groves and cattle ranches, void of traffic, with only the noise of the V-twin engines to make the cattle stare lazily as we passed by.  The goal was to meet my daughter and her boyfriend in Ybor City for lunch, however, I didn’t realize I had gotten us to far south to make it back to the Tampa area by noon. When we stopped at Herb’s Limestone Country Club in Ona and I check...

Red Rocks Amphitheater outside Denver I always experience a post-road trip depression of sorts when I return home. Even more so this trip since I had to bury Our Dad in the middle of this summers excursion. Bessie is clean and gleaming in the darkened garage, awaiting my attention…but I’m not inclined to ride anytime soon. If I believe the words of the Eulogy I wrote – and I do wholeheartedly – then I am practicing acceptance. Monday was the first day I was truly ‘alone,’ after traveling with my partner for three weeks and being surrounded by family and friends during the week in Indiana. Normally, I embrace my time alone, this week….it has been uncomfortable.   “I don't wanna be the girl who has to fill the silence The quiet scares me 'cause it screams the truth (Pink)” The truth is, I am still bewildered by Our Dad’s choice. I awake each morning grateful for the daylight, grateful for the quiet satisfaction of a strong cup of coffee sweete...

I awoke Friday morning exhausted; as if someone had put on boxing gloves and gently but consistently pummeled me from head to toe. I dreaded the long journey ahead of us. Since arriving in Indiana early Wednesday morning, it had been   a whirlwind of responsibilities. Mine were minimal compared to what my brother and sister had already had to do to arrange the funeral, tie up loose ends, and cover all the bases that need covering when a parent dies. After the service and dinner at the church, I think we all felt a foreboding. Our Grandparents were gone,   our Mom was gone, our Dad was gone…..who does the family gather around from this point forward? We were all at loose ends. The trip back to Florida would be another ‘get on the super slab and ride’ kinda trip….the worst. I-75 South is congested with traffic, and the Weather Gods were not going to be in our favor today.   We gulped a cup of coffee, my brother gave me a hug and we TRIED to sli...

Dads Eulogy June 18, 2014 On behalf of our family, thank you for being here today to pay your respects and help us say good bye to our Dad. Our Dad was a man who seemingly had everything to live for and there is a lesson to be learned in this tragedy. To my brother Dave and my sister Jodi: Our Dad had three incredible children. Each of talented, educated, successful, and devoted …..in our own individual ways. You need to hear that. Our Dad had six awesome grandchildren; beautiful, brilliant, talented, and so far…everyone college educated. Jackson is yet to graduate from high school. He loved each one of you and never failed to tell anyone who would listen, of your triumphs no matter how big or how small. In fact …If you are setting here today, you have probably heard a story about John Tolberts children or grandchildren. He was extremely proud of each one of us. You need to hear that. Our Dad was a kind, loving, decent man who believed in the basic values...