Backseat - From Where I Sit

April 2005

By: Michelle

Taking Risks

It was the typical commute home from downtown DC, which meant sitting in traffic with my two carpool buddies searching for topics of discussion. When I was asked the question that probably every motorcycle rider has been asked at one time or another: "Why do you risk riding a motorcycle when it is such a dangerous thing to do?" My first inclination was to respond that at my age, just wearing a halter-top is a risk. My second thought was to give the typical (but true) biker mantra "if you have to ask, you wouldn't understand". Instead I decided that since I had a captive audience and we were obviously going nowhere fast, we had plenty of time to complete an in-depth analysis of the subject.

There is a fundamental law of carpooling: "Thou shalt not distract the driver with any emotional or thought provoking conversation." Topics are required to be limited to the mundane. Little did my car mate know that he stepped in a political land mine for motorcyclists. Therefore, I was required to break the aforementioned law. I decided it was time to put this question to rest once and for all. I wanted to put him in my "riding boots" so that he would truly understand where I was coming from.

As I took a deep breath and proceeded to get on my philosophical soapbox, I think he knew he was in for more than lighthearted conversation. He made a feeble attempt to avoid further discussion by putting his newspaper up to his face - too late. I was already on a roll. I began by explaining that everyone has certain risks in life that they feel are worth taking. For me, motorcycling fits within the acceptable risk. Something as simple as flying in an airplane, or going to the dentist without a steady dose of nitrous oxide, however, is not. He seemed satisfied with that answer and quickly pretended to be asleep. Unfortunately the driver didn't have the option of nodding off. All he could do was smile politely, nod occasionally and continue to stare straight ahead at the traffic. All the while he was probably quietly reminding himself to kill the other rider for even asking the question as soon as I got out of the car.

Undaunted, I continued to expound upon my philosophy. In the course of my life simple things like posing under a pecan tree could be a risk - the result of a trauma experienced when I was 16. I was trying to strike a sexy pose for a group of boys parked across the street only to be sabotaged by a bird who decided to drop his load onto my bare arm. Yep, nothing says, "look at me boys" like screaming and flapping your arms trying to shake off bird poop. Given the risks involved, I would take a motorcycle ride over a picnic under a shade tree any day. At this point the so-called sleeping passenger suddenly sprang to life and said that he would gladly take the risk of never asking that question again, if I promised not to answer it - Enlightenment at last!

The bottom line is that you never know what risk is going to be "the big one". In the mean time, it is about living life to the fullest. Kent and I are about to embark on what we consider one of the biggest risks of our lives. We just bought property and are planning to build our home ourselves. If any of you have any suggestions, words of wisdom, please let us know. As for the "if you have to ask, you wouldn't understand".... I think we already have that part figured out.

Thanks for visiting VirginiaWind.

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