Sunday, January 18, 2009

History ....


I was eleven years old in 1960, living in a soviet-style high-rise housing development in Newark, N.J. and in 5th or 6th grade. For some reason, I got involved in presidential politics and became fascinated with the guy who everyone said could never be elected because he was Catholic - and too young.

I had no idea what Catholic had to do with it, but people said "He'd follow orders from the Pope," or that he'd make the White House a religious place and other stuff that made no sense to me. In fact, I still don't understand it. A lot of things in that election remind me of the current situation. Nixon, like Bush-the-junior, turned me off on some gut level. JFK gave me a feeling of hopefulness and I wanted to do whatever I could to get him elected. Heck, I knew a Catholic girl at school and she was cool, so why not? Never mind, here is what happened.

I went to the local democratic party headquarters office which, in our poor community, was in a vacant storefront with a few light bulbs hanging from the ceiling to better hide the lack of paint. The other volunteers did not seem to know what they were doing, but I offered to do anything they had for me to do. They thought about it and had me stuff letters into envelopes for about three days after school. It must have been September. The second week I went in they asked if I'd go around and get local businesses to put a poster in their window. Who was going to refuse a 11 year old kid? I got rid of all the posters the first day. They were a little surprised as they expected that to keep me busy for a week or two.

So they then had me go door to door in those high rise buildings. That lasted for the rest of the campaign season. I'd ring the doorbell, offer them a flyer and ask if they ever voted before. If they said no, I'd ask them if they were registered in Newark (most of the people in this place were transient) and told them where to go to register and what to bring with them. Thinking back they must have thought it strange that this little kid was doing this kind of work. I remember everyone being nice and I got lots of offers of drinks, cookies, etc. I accepted, you know, just to be polite. I must have gained 20 pounds. It was great.

Fast forward to election night, listening to returns all night on WABC radio in New York. No instant results in those days, but I guess they used exit polls or something. In our state the results were very close, but JFK won by less than one percent of the popular vote. What matters is that he won the electoral college vote and became the president. I think that most people look back upon those days and remember him as a good thing for the US. I certainly do.

It was a time of 'making history' just as Obama is doing. There are a lot of other things going on that are similar as well. Kennedy had Vietnam, the Cuba missle crisis and enemies in high places. Obama has the wars, the emergence of Russia and the economy. He gives me a feeling of hopefulness, just like JFK. Let us hope that Obama lives a long, effective life as president and after his eight years as president are served. They are sure going to be trying times.

What does all this have to do with motorcycles? While living at Ivy Hill Apartments I found what turned out to be a Harley Davidson transmission in the parking lot. Having no place to work and no tools, I be-friended a local gas station owner, and got to take it apart at his place and with his help. That gas station owner, Tony Giordino, became a mentor, my first 'employer' and good friend. All things work together...

I never did see what was wrong with that tranny, but it was cool to take it apart.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Life is like a box of chocolates ...

Life is like a box of chocolates... you never know what you're gonna get. ...

After spending some time looking at maps, thinking about which bike I want to ride and in general daydreaming about July, I have decided to spend my 60th birthday in a place I have never been, but wanted to visit for over 20 years.

Savannah, GA

All the times we have passed that way have either been part of a mad dash to Florida, or the ride home to Virginia. Something I read decades ago was set in Savannah and from that seed, a vision of the historic part of the city has grown. I am ready to enjoy it. Lets see, a walking town (plus one), great food (plus two), more great food (donuts - plus three), history (plus four), architecture (plus five) and high temperature and humidity (minus 0.5). Sounds good to me.

So the plan at this moment is to spend July 6-10 there, or something like that. We are planning to rent a timeshare in the historic area if any family or friends want to join us for part or all of that time. If no-one joins us we will stay at a B&B or historic hotel.

We will be coming from Baton Rouge celebrating Kent's second birthday and continuing back home for me to begin the motorcycle part of the July trip. Most likely we will be in a car as the train is too complicated to get to all these places. But who knows what will happen.

The motorcycle part is now down to either the East coast of Md, Virginia and North Carolina visiting friends (Pat, lock your doors!) or Birmingham, Alabama where I will visit Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and the Birmingham Civil Rights district. I met the museum director on the train last year and he promised me a good time. I bet there is some great food there as well as interesting friends I haven't met yet.

Then on to Vintage Motorcycle Days and either camping or staying at the hostel. Rumor has it that this might be the last year of this event :( I'll try to visit the AMA museum, get my hair cut in Newark, OH and eat the "walleye special" at the bar & grill across the street from the barber shop. I am sure that I will volunteer for the museum at VMD again this year, it was great fun to help out last year. Anyone want to join us there? July 23-26. Money back if you don't like it.

Let me know if you can fit into the plans in any way.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

What I've done

I got this from Erica's blog and while I have no idea where she got this list, I have done a few of them. Not the scary ones, like bungee jumping.

Copy this list into your own blog, then bold or italicize the things you've done. Here's mine:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

I think it can be just as interesting to see the things that aren't italicized. Intriguing list. I feel the need to travel more now. Link to yours if you end up posting it!