As I was cleaning a closet one day I found a forgotten picture in a box of a friend that I had not seen in twenty years. My how time passes. When I was 11 my family moved to Texas from Mississippi and moved into a small house in Fort Worth. A young man such as I also named David and his family lived next door. We became friends and shared many great experiences exploring our world. My family moved as was the norm, but David and I stayed in touch until life in it's way tends to send people of separate paths. Finally we lost touch.
As I looked at the picture I wondered what ever became of my good friend David and I began to reminisce, of memories of youth and the games and good times we had in our friendship. David was tall and of good nature and we liked many of the same things. We had spent several years getting to know each other while attending school and growing to adulthood. Many of us have those kinds of memories and they are very special and help make us who we are in our lives.
I decided to search on the Internet for his name and found several that matched, all around the country, but found one in Texas. I remembered that his grandmother had a farm in a small east Texas town and there was a name matching his in that town. It was Christmas time so I sent a note to the address just to see if this was my long ago friend and to wish him well.
I did not hear anything for many weeks and had decided that it must have not been my long ago friend David. Then one day there it was, a letter in the mail. A sudden nervousness struck, had he remembered me after all this time? What did he have to say? I hesitated, then opened to read the letter. “Well it’s me how did you find me and yes I remember. I am glad to here from you and please call or here is my net address.” I was excited and happy. After all this time my friend was alive and well.
We corresponded a few times and then the invitation came to visit him in East Texas. I said Yes I will come.
The day came and I awoke early, packed my bag and loaded Mooose, the trusty iron horse. Mooose was a 1996 Harley Dyna Wide Glide, black with flames on the tank and lots of chrome. I had always loved motorcycles and Mooose was my current ride. Off I went on a beautiful morning with wonder and thoughts of the past. As I traveled striving to break the trap of the city, I spent that dull period of traffic battle thinking of additional fun that David and I had in the past and what could I expect when we again meet face to face.
The season was late spring and the world was alive and fresh. As I left the city the traffic faded to the rear and the road opened to a beautiful crisp morning. The air was brisk and I looked at my arms and the hair was sticking straight up and my skin was tight with chill bumps. I felt vigorous and energized. I pumped the throttle and moved on past 75 mph and my clothes moved to the rhythm of the wind. Dallas was swallowed by it’s own weight and the thoughts of the city was now behind me and peace and the harmony of the ride were now present.
The sun began its arc and the morning grew as I moved into the gentle hills of green with fields full of cattle. The cattle were standing, laying and watching as I moved past. I bet they were thinking, what a loud noise this man was making on that strange machine and disturbing their tranquil would. What a joy to be human in this life. You never know some day we may meat again.
Soon the woods of East Texas came to me from my view upon Mooose. I knew that I was steadily moving closer to that reunion with my friend. What would he be like after all these years. Would he look the same? How has life been to him? Has there been much pain or lots of happiness? Would we still be friends? The eyes would tell.
Riding a motorcycle for me releases a lot of impurities in my mind and cleanses the stress of life. No matter how much I ride, when I sling a leg over a scoot and start-off down the road I feel younger and filled with peace. My blood stirs, my heart pounds, the rhythm of my breath grows and I feel full of energy. It is excitement and happiness.
Finally, I see the sign for the city where my friend lives and I am again filled with anticipation. I stop to wash my face, fill Mooose and once again look at the directions. I am close and ready for the meeting.
I start off and find my way to his turn in. He has a great place right at the edge of Jacksonville. It is about 60 acres mixed with dense trees, a field and a lovely pond that looks full of mystery. I drove down his long dirt drive catching glimpses of his home. I remember seeing him standing there. It was like all those lost years and been washed away. There was that familiar smiling happy face as always. Man it was great to see him after all those long years.
With a huge hug and a welcome we were once again together and happiness filled me. It was like I had found something very precious that had been misplaced for far too long. He had endured the years being able to maintain the person who he was. Something not all of us are able to do.
Time was spent talking of memories and things stored away long ago. It was a great visit. We talked of ways to share more time in the future and not to loose touch again.
We even rode the scoots a little. David had always had an interest in motorcycles also and still had Wildfire, a Honda Sportbike. It looked great and when he let me ride it a little it was too late, I had the fever again.
As always time slipped away any it was time for the trip back home. So with another hug and a smile Mooose and I were off again on the roads for the trip back home. Thinking of more memories and then of new times to come I felt peaceful.