WOW, what a month of tears. Between our friend Cap’s death and the outpouring of love and support for Suzy Q, then Willie’s Ride, that Cap was organizing before his death and the amazing support the motorcycling community, local businesses and great people showed for my friend Willie Jones…I am exhausted from tears of sorrow, tears of joy and shear emotional stress. But healing has begun for us all because we hold each other up and help each other out. Love is the salve that saves us in grief and tribulations.

Willie’s Run was incredible, particularly since we had picked Father’s Day which many had to spend with their “Birthing People”…LOL. The following morning a cardinal was looking right at me when I walked out on the pool deck. It looked at me, seemed to nod and then flew off. I haven’t seen a cardinal in the yard before. I don’t really believe in this kind of stuff, but I got a feeling Cap was saying “thanks”.

So, for Cap I must say “thank you” to the businesses, bars, bartenders, volunteers, and each one of you who took several days out of the month of June to help us all heal from the financial strains of unexpected tragedies, from the emotional toll of injuries and death, from the uncertainties of what these events of life will bring. Right now, Suzy knows things she didn’t know a month ago…she knows she is loved by so many; she knows Cap was admired by men and women that his warmth had touched over the years.

She also knows life can change in an instant, and I hope she has found a strength to find her way through this loss with all our love to aid her. Willie knows things he didn’t know almost 2 months ago: pain hurts, being really sick sucks, his wife is way more amazing than he could have possibly known before, that life is very, very precious and that you don’t recover so quickly when you get old. He knows how much we all appreciate what he has done for so many in the past, particularly the veterans. He also has learned that it is okay to cry; he laughs that he may have been given women’s blood when he needed transfusions, as he has been quite emotional through his fight for recovery. I think he is beginning to feel like he will be okay. He seems a bit stronger, that humor and sparkle in his eye is back. And the tears have dried up. In closing today, I have seen again what remarkable people this world of riding motorcycles has allowed me to know. And for that I thank you all…

Ride like your life is in danger, tell someone you love them and don’t forget your sunscreen.