Newsletter Stories

10/30/02
"The Little Voice"

There are a few basic principles I like to abide to when riding a motorcycle. #1 is keeping the shiny side up and the rubber on the road. #2 is being properly attired for the current weather when going out to ride. #3 is to avoid at all costs riding my motorcycle in the rain, it's just not a desirable riding condition. I try to achieve all 3 of these basic principles for an enjoyable experience. But last weekend I fell somewhat short of my ultimate goal. I only achieved one of these goals when heading out to Speedworld for the event last Saturday. Although, it was the most important one. I kept the rubber on the road (at least part of the time).

Have you ever had one of those moments that you get a little check in your spirit? A little voice in your head that says: Should you really be doing this? Maybe it's when you want that one more drink that you know you shouldn't have, or you are going a little fast and you know there could be radar coming your way, or you want that new piece of chrome but you know you shouldn't spend the money? And then there are the 2 really big battles. You see that last piece of cheesecake rolling by on the cart and you know you shouldn't eat it, but you can't bear the thought of it spending the night alone in a cold dark refrigerator. And here is the one that has nailed a lot of people. You see that irresistible man or woman. You think that a little messing around isn't going to matter. Your mind checks out and the new fun one steps in. That little voice is screaming to the top of its lungs, Don't Do It!! Don't Do It!! But the new fun mind comes installed with those fancy new earplugs from TEAM Arizona. You didn't hear it.

There are a multitude of struggles that go on in our minds between ourselves and that little voice. Sometimes I would like to put a muzzle on it. Because most of the time it doesn't agree with me and it always ends up being right. I had that very struggle last Saturday as I was riding the motorcycle. The day was all planned out perfect. I was going to ride down to Hance park to help my daughter and her class feed the homeless, then ride down to Cooperstown to catch the start of that ride and then ride out to Speedworld to get some video of the event for the site. The first 2 legs of the plan went well. But the 3rd one fell well short. About a mile from Grand on Bell Rd. it started sprinkling on me.

That little voice started to speak to me saying: "Turn around, you are going to get soaked". I'm saying nah, see that patch of blue sky, it is right over the top of Speedworld, I'm sure it is perfect there. So off I went heading North, right into a hard rain. The little voice is saying: "Cut your losses, turn around, the racing is going to be cancelled". But I'm still hanging on to that patch of blue sky that is now the size of a quarter, (that happened to not be over Speedworld anyway). So I continue on. After 6 more miles of torture and being completely soaked I arrive at Speedworld. The racing has been cancelled. Barry-0, Little Voice-2.

So I hang out for a while. The rain stops and I'm thinking that somehow the track is going to miraculously dry out immediately and I will get my video and the day will be a success. Not! The rain stopped...but the little voice started up again. This time saying: "You'd better hit the road now while the getting is good". I said nah, see that patch of blue sky, it is right over Sun City, I'm sure it will be alright. 20 minutes later it starts pouring again, harder than before. Seeing that this is not going to end for some time and I am already soaked, I decided to get it over with. I take off into the pouring rain. The road is puddling water, I'm riding with one hand in front of my face trying to keep the pain of the rain off of my cheeks and now a semi decides that passing me and being in front is in some way going to make my life better. Now there is road grime on my glasses, water is puddling in my lap and it feels like 40 degrees. After 20 miles of this I finally made it home. Cold to the bone and soaked completely through to my BVD's. With age comes wisdom and hopefully better hearing of that voice inside you. Certainly on the big things. But sometimes I still try to prove I am right. If only I had listened to that little voice in my sprit that tried to help me out. For those of you keeping score. Barry-0, Little Voice-3.