“Falling in with them” was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.
I was molested as a child by an uncle and my parents did nothing to protect me.
That can really screw up your head and give you all kinds of anxiety disorders.
Imagine my incredible shock when a whole bunch of bikers formed a protective circle around me when some guy was ‘bugging me’ at a big bike show after hubby had gone off to look for parts.
They didn’t even know my name but knew I’d come in with another biker and therefore, ‘belonged to him’ and needed protecting from the “stranger”.
The guy took off but they watched over me surreptitiously until hubby returned.
Then, they ‘faded away’ into the background.
Complete strangers did for me what my own parents never did.
I wept.
I was finally “home”.
[and that’s just one vignette out of many such incredible acts of gallantry]
I can’t go to the WalMart strip mall without fear of the roving packs of ‘yutes’ grabbing me but I can walk without the least bit of concern amongst thousands of bikers gathered together anywhere in the country.
Get her a bike.
:)
That’s an awesome story, Sal. I’ve seen the same sort of gallantry and honor in the biker community, too. It’s a rare subset of American culture that very few ever get to experience firsthand.
You know, kids are like little sponges. Even when they’re tiny, they’re soaking up things from their environment, and building files on their ever expanding world. You really never know what sort of things are truly going to stick with them.
In the case of my daughter, something about the biker culture she rubbed elbows with, must have stuck with her when she was little. I think she’s even dialing in the precise cultural zone she wants to be a part of. Up until recently, she kept pointing out sport bikes to me when we were out and about. The other day at breakfast she tells me she’s changed her mind and now wants a cruiser. My eyes about popped.
I think I’ll take her on a surprise trip to the local Harley shop tomorrow ;-)