The gorgeous crochet-covered tree is on the grounds of the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. It joins several other yarn-bombed trees on the campus.
While I encourage supporting the museum, it is visible without entering.
Between the pattern, the coverage, and the vibrancy of the colors, this tree is a real showstopper!
“We’re very excited to announce that artist Carol Hummel, designer of the crocheted trees is returning to the museum this year to freshen up some of the existing trees and create a whole new design for an additional tree!”
Looking back through the darkest moments of adulthood – moments of loss, hopelessness, fear, loneliness… the motorcycle, in one way or another was there to help me find my way to the light.
And, in the cases where it wasn’t the motorcycle that helped me directly, it was the people I’ve met as a result of riding motorcycles.
My Motorcycle, My Healing Machine
In 2013, my dad shuffled off his mortal coil and returned to stardust. It was the first time I experienced such a tremendous loss.
Growing up, this kooky guy shaped my mind as a stay-at-home dad in my youngest years. I don’t think anyone that knew him would argue with me when I say my dad was a total weirdo. He taught me things that I could never have learned from my mom. I’ll always be grateful for that experience.
As he deteriorated over the last decade of his life, the man I knew growing up wasn’t there anymore. But ridiculous stories and memories of how he followed his whims stayed in my heart.
Though his passing was not unexpected, when it finally happened there was a strange feeling of being rudderless. One of the constants in my life was gone. Nothing prepares you for that type of finality.
Following the death of my pop, riding my motorcycle was one way that I could feel normal. It forced me to stay in the moment, to see life as it was happening. I couldn’t deny or ignore the enjoyable sensations I was experiencing.
I was able to ride through some of my grief.
My Motorcycle, My Therapist
In the autumn of 2018, my grasp on sanity was tenuous. During the summer months of that year, my existence was rocked by a psychotic episode. The event thrusted me into swirl of confusion, fear, pain, and despair.
When your only goal is making it through the next hour without losing your mind, life seems futile and hopeless.
During that crazy summer, I was something of a shut-in. But after a few months of pills, endless hours of tv, crying, and therapy – motorcycle-related activities enticed me to start voluntarily leaving the house again.
I didn’t know how to live. But, I knew how to ride a motorcycle. And that was something good.
During that volatile period, it was the common thread of motorcycling that pushed me to connect; to try to rediscover myself. And as a result of those connections, I wholeheartedly credit the people who propped me up without asking too many questions and didn’t try to fix me, with saving my life.
Each of the people who ran quietly behind me until I didn’t need training wheels anymore were motorcycle people.
My Motorcycle, My Lifesaver
Motorcycles saved my life by being my lifeline to the outside world. When the devil on my shoulder told me that I should withdraw from life, my motorcycle was the angel that gave me wings.
Throughout the last two decades, there are so many things that motorcycles have taught me about being a coward. There is a lesson in every ride. But it can take time for the meaning to make itself known.
Sometimes that lesson is directly related to the act of riding. And others, it transcends the machine.
What Exactly is a Coward, Anyway?
Merriam Webster’s good book defines it as such:
coward noun cow·ard | \ ˈkau̇(-ə)rd \ Definition of coward (Entry 1 of 2): one who shows disgraceful fear or timidity
Whew, timidity? I don’t know about you, but sometimes it feels like I have that in spades.
I’ve quivered, wrestled with indecision, and flat out refused to do some things because I was chicken. Many times, I’ve applied the brakes when the correct answer was more gas. And, I’ve found myself sitting at the edge of a water crossing while the rest of the pack has ridden away.
In the end, when I’ve backed away from challenges, I gained nothing.
When you don’t keep up your momentum and lean deeply through life’s curves, the thrill just isn’t there.
The big moments, big achievements, life’s hard-fought triumphs? Honey, those aren’t found in the arms of your comfort zone.
Lean in. Deeply.
Start with Being Brave Enough to Try
In my experiences where mushing my fears in the face were required, what I imagined the outcome to be was far worse than reality.
What if I don’t make it up the rocky hill on my bike? What if I fall? What if I submarine my bike in that puddle?
I don’t know. What if?
What if you try to ride up that hill and none of those mistakes happen?
What if you discover you’re a badass?
And hell, you might fail on the first try. You might crash trying to get your bike over an obstacle.
So what?
Each “fail” is a win.
Stop to consider that each time you don’t make it, you gain experience. You learn ways not to do something. Plus, you earn the knowledge that screwing something up isn’t nearly as bad as you thought it would be.
Convincing yourself that you can’t ride over a log or through a water crossing and not even bothering to give it a shot? That’s a guaranteed failure.
For a mere split second all you have to do is be brave enough to try.
Feeling Cowardly Isn’t a Fixed State of Being
Scared?
Tired of being a wallflower?
Well, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Now… come closer…
YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BE SOMETHING ELSE!
Yeah, you can! The people riding around the world or doing track days, they aren’t made up of anything special. They’re just people. Not magic people. Regular people who had the courage to go after something they wanted.
Your motorcycle loves you. Use it as a key to unlock the potential within yourself.
Start slow. Start small. Just start.
My Motorcycle, My Teacher
So what have motorcycles taught me about being a coward?
It’s taught me that when I feel cowardly, it’s up to me to ride through it. The fear isn’t a fixed state of being. Being brave enough to lean harder, go faster, ride further for just a split second can make all the difference.
Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.
George Addair
* It’s a shame that poltroon is negative. It would be much more fun if it was someone who wore a chicken suit full time.
The TePee, Cherry Valley, NY’s famous roadside attraction has been around since 1950. It’s made up of a pinch of giftshop, a dash of Americana, and a whole heap of awesomeness.
I’d stopped there once before years prior, but I was hot and miserable. The experience wasn’t especially pleasant. Thankfully, my latest visit was the opposite of that.
This time I bought a Tepee shot glass to commemorate my excellent trip.
The TePee looks out across the Mohawk Valley. The valley spills out to the edge of the Earth. And in between the Tepee and eternity, there are lovely roads to ride.
During my visit, I had a little tête-à-tête with the sleepy-eyed buffalo. He didn’t have a lot to say, he just kinda grazes in the parking lot; keeps an eye on things.
It’s hard to tell from this photo, but Buff is smiling, too.
I’ll be honest. The first thing I thought when I saw the buffalo was that I wanted to sit on it. They must get that a lot.
During a quick search, I was able to find vintage postcards that feature The Tepee.
This particular image was taken before the attached building was built.
It’s fun to imagine what the woman would be saying to the brave on the bucking bronco if they were real. Maybe she was part of something like a carhop service, but for horse riders. “What can I getcha, hon?”
How much do you love that bucking bronco out front? Unfortunately, it is no longer there. And can we talk about the totem pole? So good. Sadly it too is no longer around.
When the Tepee was built, it was clad in silver like a disco space tepee. Everybody knows that disco space tepee parties are the best parties.
Am I a motorcycle blogger? Or a Long Island motorcycle blogger?
Is there a difference?
It may come as a surprise to people who don’t know me personally, but I can easily fall down the rabbit hole of data analysis. You’re looking at one of those nerdy weirdos who gets excited by it. Data is like a puzzle and that is candy for my brain.
You’re probably thinking, Okaaaay, and?
Well, recently I’ve taken a closer look at who actually reads this blog. What I uncovered surprised me.
Who reads this motorcycle blog?
Gender
Male: 80%
Female: 20%
Location
United States: 80%
New York: 20%
Age
25-34: 18%
35-44: 17%
45-54: 26%
55-64: 27%
65+ : 12%
So, are you a man 45 or older who lives in the New York Metro area?
New York Readership Concentration
Analytics – What surprised me
For starters, I wrongly assumed that more women would be interested in this blog. But if you factor in that only 19% of ridership in the United States is made up of women, maybe the gender split makes sense.
There has never been any evidence for me to support the notion of more women readers. I just made the assumption that people gravitate to others who are similar to themselves.
Maybe the similarity, in this case, is just being a rider.
I can get behind that.
“The study found that among all age groups, women make up 19 percent of motorcycle owners, compared with less than 10 percent less than a decade ago.”
When it comes to the location information, I am not at all surprised that most of my blog readers are in the United States.
And since I live in New York and do a lot of riding here, it does stand to reason that the state of New York has a large readership. They’re likely to see familiar sights or names of places.
When I ask myself, do I mention New York a lot? I don’t think I do. So, what lands New York blog readers here in such a high percentage? Is Google more apt to deliver localized results overall?
The state of New York has nearly triple the percentage of readers when compared to the next most popular state.
Long Island Motorcycle Blogger?
Taking the location information down to the next level, as you can see on the map above, there is a high concentration of activity around New York City and Long Island.
Does this mean that the things I write about are more Long Island-centric than anywhere else?
Are the Long Island readers people who know me personally? Or friends of friends?
WHO ARE YOU?! Say ‘hi,’ why don’t ya!
Long Island’s Best Motorcycle Blogger?
Am I somehow failing a “hometown” audience that I didn’t know I had?
Should I set my sights on becoming Long Island Best Motorcycle Blogger?
Because that would be a crown I wouldn’t mind wearing. It probably feels incredible to be that best at something.
Who is Long Island’s Best Motorcycle Blogger?
Why, Girlie Motorcycle Blog @ Fuzzygalore.com, of course!
Who is Long Island’s Best Motorcycle Blogger?
Why, Girlie Motorcycle Blog @ Fuzzygalore.com, of course!
What is the Best Long Island Motorcycle Blog?
Well, that would have to be Girlie Motorcycle Blog, my good man!
I don’t know about you, but I like it!
Motorcycle Blogger or Long Island Motorcycle Blogger?
