Salute Timothy!

Photo: Tim saluting the colors at the Salute to American Veterans Motorcycle Rally 2014.

This is a nod of respect to my in house Veteran. This is a guy who gets me out of the house and out of my head and knows when I need to get some wind in my face. He takes me anywhere I want to go on our Harley. He will search for and find out of the way Veterans memorials. He will circle the block if I didn't get a good shot of something. We pay our respects to Veterans in our own way every chance we get and then we saddle up and ride the free roads of this country in celebration of the founding principles of this country. Our mantra is Ride Free and that's exactly what we do.

I salute you Timothy - for your service, for your patriotism, for the honor of standing by your side. I got lucky about 43 years ago... not a day goes by that I fail to realize that.

Salute!

Pic: Salute to American Veterans Rally 2014

Photo credit: Jim Wear

Over the weekend of August 15-16 we made a 424.2 mile road trip wrapped around an excellent rally, gorgeous weather, great food. Add rubbing elbows with veterans and patriots of every era and motorcycles... lots of motorcycles - it was quite simply - freekin' awesome.

We had the honor of being in the presence of Gold Star Mothers and family members of Axelson and Kristensen - members of Seal Team Ten (Operation Red Wings) during the memorial ceremonies at the Salute to American Veterans Rally... a plaque was dedicated to the team on the veterans memorial in Cripple Creek's downtown park. It was a heartbreaking and humbling and vision blurring experience.

Memorial Day: A Sacred Charge

Memorial Day 2014
Colorado USA

Before we roll out this weekend - I am inclined to revisit some thoughts on Memorial Day...

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I remind you government in no way, shape or fashion funds Memorial Day events. Politicians and bureaucrats do not fund Memorial Day flyovers or color guard participation. Memorial Day events are sponsored lock, stock and barrel by the American Taxpayer. Despite what you may hear -- politicians do not own this day by rule or writ or rhetoric. Grieving hearts and respectful sentiment own this day. People of all ages and from all walks of life will gather across the land in common purpose and reverence. Flags will wave. Bands will play. Bells will toll. The Star Spangled Banner will ring out across the land. Heads will dip in remembrance and respect as the names of the fallen echo across flag studded fields of honor.

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude, -- the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.
-- General John A. Logan in his General Order No. 11 of May 5th, 1868, Decoration Day

As freeborn children we should spend this day in celebration and do so out of respect for the sacrifices made by generations of soldiers who have paid and continue to pay the ultimate price on our behalf. We should celebrate with a proud eye on the flag and lend an attentive ear to the families and friends of those who have fallen in the service of our country. We should stand in silent support beside a friend who once again grapples with the fact that they made it home alive while others did not. Lest we forget, we should pay our respects to veterans past and present in our own families.

We cannot let ourselves be blind or deaf to the sacrifice of increasingly unsung valor. We cannot become so immured to the reality and violence of war that we fail to respect the soldier's reality - those brave souls who defend and protect and serve. We cannot harden our sensibilities so that we do not see the pain of sacrifice in a mother’s eye or the bewilderment in the expressions of widows and orphans. Let our hearts not be so jaded that we cannot feel the loss of a single one of our brave.

Let us celebrate being American. Let us raise our flags high... let us raise our hands in salute... let us raise our voices in patriotic tribute... let us raise our heads in pride of country. Let us teach our children an appreciation for the veteran elders among us and guide them on the path that preserves freedom and liberty, justice and independence for all time. Let us do these things in celebration of diversified unity. United We Stand is not merely an old catch phrase - it is a call to duty. It is our duty, one we should impart with diligence to younger generations. It is a duty we should demand of anyone standing on our free and bloodied soil.

As we celebrate Memorial Day like we do so many holidays in the good ol' USA -- with picnics and beer, car races and concerts, flags and fireworks, motorcycle rides and mountain drives, and heaven forbid an inordinate amount of commercialism, let us pause in the revelry with grateful hearts and rejoice that we live in the land of the free. Let us renew our allegiance to the ideal that is the United States of America.

Finally - let us look our living veterans in the eye, acknowledge their service – tip a hat, shake a hand, hug a neck and keep in mind what Samuel Adams once said, If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin. Every day we wake in a free and civilized country is a reason to be grateful for those who have done the hard work and we can take comfort in the fact that they would all do it again.

Here's a nod of respect: American Legion Riders, Combat Vets, Run for the Wall Riders and dozens of other organizations as well as countless individuals will roll over thousands of miles this weekend to various remembrance celebrations and memorials across this land. My 78 year old Dad is scheduled to attend several such events on Monday alone. I just want to say to all of you - Ride Safe. Ride Free. You make me proud.

Finally, Happy Memorial Day is a common expression at odds with itself. I cannot imagine felicity being an appropriate expression of regards on a day we have set aside to memorialize those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our well-being. If they could tell us what is in their hearts, I imagine those who paved the way for our enjoyment of a three day holiday would kindly indulge our flagrant abuse of it. They did not sacrifice to be memorialized with tears and pain. No, they sacrificed so we the people could continue the uninhibited pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.

With that in mind, perhaps the highest tribute we can pay is to consider it our sacred charge to properly acknowledge every day as Memorial Day in the USA.

Fifth of May in the USA Ride

May 5, 2014
Colorado USA

The Ride - Horsetooth Reservoir - just a short ride away from our front door.

Tim - Horsetooth Reservoir

Vik - Horsetooth Reservoir

Lunch at Derby Grille

A 75 mile BTGTWR (before Tim goes to work ride) on our traditional fifth of May in the USA ride...

Welcome Home Vietnam Vets!

March 29, 2014
Colorado USA

Today is Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, designated so because this is the day in 1973 the last of our troops left Vietnam - although any survivor will tell you that is hardly the case. Not all of them (POW-MIA) returned. Currently there are 58,261 (most of them KIA) on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

March 29, 1973 - That was 40 years ago today and only in recent years has the day been designated as memorable or the Veterans themselves recognized as deserving of long overdue respect. They deserved better than the silence and derision that greeted them upon their return from the horrors of war. Such were the times... they say... they that do not know... they that do not get it. Lives changed both abroad and at home... forever.

Even now people forget... Soldiers do not wage war. Soldiers bravely fight war. Soldiers bear the burden of war. Soldiers bear the scars of war. Soldiers pay the toll of war.

No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. Rarely have so many people been so wrong about so much. Never have the consequences of their misunderstanding been so tragic. -- Nixon

My favorite Vietnam Veteran.

My favorite Vietnam Veteran aka Dad.

About this time in 2012, Dad rolled north on his Harley into Oklahoma and reunited with friends he made during his tour in Vietnam. It was a Vietnam Vet Reunion after 40 plus years.

Vietnam Vet Reunion after 40 plus years - Kool!

40 plus years ago - Vietnam -- Sadly Dad's Vietnam buddy (pictured here on the left and on the right in the photo above) succumbed to a long illness before 2012 came to an end. Rest in Peace Sir and thank you for your Service.

I am the daughter and wife and friend to many Vietnam Veterans. They have my utmost and heartfelt appreciation for the service they rendered this country and my eternal respect.

Frosty and Tex - Vietnam Vets - American Legion Honor Guard Riders/Patriot Guard Riders

Welcome home. You are my heroes. I am so glad you are in my life!

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They were Momma's boys. Daddy's sons. High school sweethearts. Big brothers. Somebody's Dad. Football heroes. Baseball stars. Fresh. Young. Agile. They were the embodiment of apple pie and ice cream, fireworks on the 4th of July, home-spun, home-grown, farm-raised, city-slicker, Chevy-driving, Harley-riding, blue-jeans-n-t-shirt America. They were our best and brightest.

BEFORE...
THEY WENT OFF TO WAR....

We shipped them away from America's promise, still wet behind the ears - out of our lives with tears, wrenched hearts and prayers. Duty called. They answered. They fought. They bled. Some died.

THEN...
THEY CAME HOME FROM WAR...

Unwelcomed by a silent and disapproving homeland - no parades, no flags, no confetti, no back-slapping speeches. Some braved the hissing, spitting gauntlet of mindless protest and disrespect.

STUNNED...
THEY STEPPED BACK INTO A STARK AND THANKLESS WORLD...

Standing in the embrace of a tiny knot of family whose prayers were answered, they faced a world they once knew which held no welcome and little promise. The world did not understand, could not understand and did not care.

SILENT...
THEY SHOULDERED FAULTLESS BLAME...

Some of them proud. Some of them bitter. Some of them broken. Most of them defiant. All of them survivors.

FINALLY...
THEY WEPT...

In rage. In tears. In silence... for the brothers in arms who did not come home and for those who would never come home and for the selves they left in a distant land. With firm resolve and stoic calm - they buried some who never witnessed the appreciation of their countrymen that was ultimately too little, too late.

EVER TRUE...
THEY ROSE OUT OF THE ASHES OF A SHAMED NATION...

They perservered. They overcame. They survived. Some of them. Vets proved the other they were wrong by living the dream and fulfilling America's promise.

NOW...
THEY TEACH US DAY-BY-DAY

About heroism. About respect. About principle. About patriotism.

TODAY... SOMETIMES...
THEY GET RESPECT LONG OVERDUE...

And now we as a nation know what real humility is.

WELCOME HOME VIETNAM VETERANS!
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WE WILL REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE NOT MADE IT HOME.
WE WILL HONOR THOSE WHO WILL NEVER MAKE IT HOME.

Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans

A tribute to Vietnam Vets - including Dad and Tim
Created March 2012

This might take a while

February 16, 2014

Just gonna charge the battery he says...

You gotta kiss'em and hug'em...

February 14, 2014

You gotta kiss'em and hug'em and ride'em around all over the place... it's all about the s'miles ya know and maybe some really, really good chocolate.

Happy V-Day!

February 14, 2014
Colorado USA

Just for fun - sharing Tim's V-Day card from last year again...

Little V-Day Arrows for You

XO XO XO
S.W.A.K.

Looking for a little critter cooperation today

February 2, 2014
Colorado USA

Snow on the ground - Spring in my heart - C'mon little guy - Let's get 'er done!

How to Fold Chaps

Two Wheel Thunder Tv's Melanie Lesson 1 on Folding Chaps

First Ride 2014

January 3, 2014

It was only a get-some-gas ride but it was enough to put a smile on his kisser... ha!

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2014
Colorado, USA

As is our custom, we will stage a sit-in-by-the-fire to welcome the New Year 2014. We will allow Mother Nature's fickle and chilly temperament to dictate our activities for the time being. Resolutions are for procrastinators so we will likely pull out our matching Harley road planners and resolve to ride a few more new roads in the coming year.

The future is never certain but if the fates are kind and we have anything to do with it we will find a few more s'miles out there on the horizon. In the south we call that over yonder. We know where yonder is. It's thataway. Ha!

With that said, if you are checking in - Happy New Year! May you find peace, love, prosperity and wide open roads in your future. As always we wish you and yours the bright blessing of enduring freedom and send out heartfelt appreciation to all Veterans far and wide.

Keep calm and ride on...

From our house to yours

December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! And a special shout out to all Veterans past and present - Thank you for your service!

Nuff said...

December 8, 2013

Day 6 of sub zero temps in northern Colorado...

Happy Thanksgiving

November 28, 2013

For the family and friends who have chosen to be part of our lives,
For the blessings we find in each other,
For the freedom to travel the roads we have ridden this year,
For the hope of riding those that lay beyond today's horizon...
We are grateful.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Just breezed on thru #42

November 22, 2013
Colorado USA

Tim & Vik - Picnic Ride - June 2013

Tim and Vik - Grand Canyon Ride - August 2013

It is winter in northern Colorado so we are thinking an anniversary ride is out but we have come to understand after 42 years that sometimes you just have to celebrate the good things as you go along... stay tuned...

Veterans Day 2013 - for Tim

November 11, 2013
Colorado USA

Here is a salute to my resident Veteran, the one who gets me out of the house and my head and takes me up and down freedom's highways to Veterans rallies and parks and memorials and rolls under big flags until I get just the right shot and who buys me new cameras knowing He and The Ride are going to be the main targets. Thank you for your service Tim - you make me proud - carry me on - ha!

Thank You for Your Service!

November 11, 2013
Colorado, USA

Ride or rake leaves?

November 3, 2013

The question (as absurd as it sounds) was ride or rake leaves on what looks like the last day for a good ride at least for a few days in northern Colorado... the answer is apparent I think since The Ride was already parked at the curb. Ha!

Happy Hallowe'en

October 31, 2013

Tonight the witches will ride, will ride,
Each on her broomstick Harley astride, astride,
Silent and swift in their mystic flight
Upward they'll go in the cold, black night.

And the wind will sob, and shriek, and moan,
The great trees shudder, and shake, and groan.
The moon will hide in the murky sky,
In the forest dark the bats will fly.

And owls will hoot, and wolves will howl
And green-eyed cats in the shadows prowl.
Tonight the witches will ride, will ride,
Each on her broomstick Harley, astride, astride.