A Brother From Another Mother

I found this in drafts.  I wrote it right after attending Dave's funeral. I didn't publish it because... I don't remember now.  Needing it to be perfect comes to mind, now.  Dirt just needs to be remembered.

BFAM

July 5th, 2010, David “DirtBike” Bailey, left us to stand a flag line with the heroes in heaven.

My brother, Dave 'Dirt Bike' Bailey at 'Dave Fest '09'. Signing my sons chair. He was in Iraq and these were 'luxury' items he said they really missed.






After over a year long fight with his cancer alien, God chose to bring him home and give him peace. As sad as I am at Dirt’s passing, I know his pain has ended and he is at peace. I can’t help but smile at the thought of him greeting heroes with hugs, telling stories and just being a blessing to everyone that he meets.

Ride forever free my friend and crack open those pipes for me, the pipes you hear screaming in California are mine and they cry with me, missing you. NOT like a punk, like the true American patriot that you are. Know that you are already sorely missed and will never be forgotten.

(grinns) I can still hear Dave saying, ‘Ridin Til I Rot’ and ‘Aint going out like no punk’. He did both. I am blessed for knowing him.

God’s blessings and peace be with Janet, the family and his friends.

Speedway Bill

A friend died last weekend. I am sadden by the loss and heartbroken that I could not return to Indiana for the funeral. The funeral was today.

I was there in spirit...

I've been thinking about him and his family all day.

I first met Bill in the summer of 2006. Memorial Day weekend. A 'come one, come all' invite had gone out to all Indiana Patriot Guard Riders to come on down to Speedway for a BBQ. For those that don't know, the Indianapolis 500 is actually not held in Indianapolis. It is in a small land locked town inside Indianapolis city limits called Speedway.

Bill and his family have lived there many years, 15 if I remember correctly. As I rode in on my '83 Shovel, making enough noise to wake the dead, Bill took notice and smiled. I walked over and introduced myself and immediately I was welcomed. "There's the food, the hog will be done about 6. The beer is in that cooler, soda in that one. Pull up a chair. Welcome." The same welcome happened several times and many new friendships were started.

We sat and chatted, under a checkerboard sign that read "Welcome Scuzy Mucks". A nick name given to the regulars that attended Bill's BBQs. I still smile when I say that name. I don't know that I ever fully became a 'Scuzzy Muck' to the other guys but to Bill, I was one of them.

Bill Mummert a.k.a. SpeedwayBill, was laid to rest today. His smile and selfless service for veterans and the Indiana Patriot Guard (IPG) will be greatly missed. Bill's family honored the IPG and invited us to attend his viewing and memorial service.

Rest in peace Bill and God's peace be with the family.

There’s a party at the Barn

It’s 12:30am Wednesday morning and I’m not sleeping again. Not sleepy… maybe choosing not to sleep. I’m actually not sure which.

Earlier today a friend posted on FB (by the way, that’s where I’m spending most of my time these days) he was headed up to the barn to get some ink done. Sigh. Sitting at my desk (it’s really a table, I don’t have a desk… and don’t even ask about ‘an office’) I pondered on that statement just long enough to get a lump in my throat.

I’m here, they’re there. And life goes on.

I may have to drink a bottle of Jack this weekend just so I can pretend I’m there.

If, somehow, someone, were to read this and happened to get the Barn Bunch together for a ‘biker’ style (you know, fingers, moons, maybe ‘twins’) group photo and sent it to me… I’d be really grateful.

Question...

How do you, or more specifically I, tell some one they are being a dumb ass?

Besides the obvious, just come out and say it.

In a few posts below, I've talked about Tom. He has esophogas cancer. He says from years of smoking. Like since he was 19, since Vietnam.

Because he was a real man (his words) he never went to the doctors. If he had they may have found it early enough to make it not be fatal.

So... what causes a mid 40's, intelligent man to start or re-start smoking?? Peer pressure...? Really? Naw, can't be.

Ok... I'll just say it.

DC, you're being a dumb ass! Just stop smoking! Ok?
That shit WILL kill you!

And Steve, my gut tells me you aren't doing everything you should. I hope I'm wrong.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

The Big Catch-Up

Where the Hell am I...?

If you’ve asked a question recently, the answer is probably here.

Party at the Barn –
After lots of big plans and many people coming, it finally happened. Not as many soldiers as we would have liked and not as many friends as I would have liked but it was a good time. The Corpsman brother came up and got some ink. I got mine finished… well the outside. We’ll see if and when I get to the inside. Brian (the tattoo’er) sketched out a concept. It’s gonna be cool!













The Corpsman . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Blogger
(click'm for big'm)

The son –
Reserve center on or about June 1, then training in the California desert. Then off to the sand box. Unemployment aside, this is going to be a tough year for me.

The Test –
I passed. I am an official state of Indiana licensed bartender. Should get some apps out today. We’ll see what happens.

JOB –
Good news, guess I have one. They want me to do the contract thing for 4 weeks, then make me an official offer.
Bad news, like I said below, it’s in California… Los Angeles.

Tom –
Sigh.
He has asked me to take him to the Nickel Plate (local Steelers bar). He knows he’s going to miss the ’09 season so he wants to go have some of the bar food ‘one last time’.
We’re going today.
God! I’m gonna miss him!

4 to 6 Weeks

Sigh…

It is amazing the range of emotions I go through while riding.

Tom was told last week, “the chemo is not helping anymore, we are going to stop it and make you comfortable. You have 4-6 weeks.”

No, I guess it wasn’t really that cold when he relayed the info to me but is was that abrupt, at least to me. Since this post in October of ’07. I had gotten used to him being sick and not dying. It’s been 18 months since that ‘Stage IV’ post and he’s still here, I had become complacent. Now …

When I left his house this evening, I was in a rage. If I could have gotten to a computer then, this would have been a VERY different post. But a bit of a ride and some tears on the inside of my ridding glasses and I don't need to kill anything. I want to remember. I want you to know.

***********************
I’d guess about 7 years ago we (me and my family) were a little tight for money. So, I got a second job. I think I was making $8 an hour as a cashier in a Shell station. As football season came around, I was grumpy that I was missing all of the football games, not just the Steelers. See, I was working 10 hours Saturday and Sunday, plus 8 hours 2 or 3 days a week making ‘the shell station’ almost another full time job.

On Sundays (with my Managers permission) I started bringing a 13 inch tv to work. I would at least get to watch whatever game was on the local airwaves. Amazingly, quite a few were Steelers games. Customers would loiter and watch the game for a few minutes, once they figured I was going to do this regularly some would drop their wives off to get groceries then ‘go get gas in the car’. Heh, amazingly ‘getting gas’ would take just as much time as the whole grocery trip. One of those regulars was Tom. He is a Steelers fan. We got to the point where he’d stop at Subway and bring us sandwiches for the late games. He was a Marine… we became friends.

Tom, my friend, this is going to be a tough month. For both of us. Like another friend of mine says, “you are where you are suppose to be”. I am so glad I decided to work at that gas station.

God bless, God’s peace. I will not forget you.

Update

Hey everyone!



Yes, I'm still alive. I survived the Blues Bash. Not for trying though. Looking back I was in a hurry to get my drink on. Too much of a hurry. I have no idea how much I drank... too much... too much shine, too much Jack and all WAY too fast.



Before the band finished it's first set I had fallen on some lady and was pretty much unconscious. (that is, I don't remember anything).



I have a couple pics... Guess i'll post them. I know there are more floating around. They'll have to be emailed to me... Maybe i'll post them too.



The job search is going slow. One company expressed interest but even that is waning. Plus I don't think I really want to move 1,400 miles east. Still have some money to make ends meet for a couple more months... I fear the recession will out last my cash reserves though. Wonder if I can get bailed out...?



PGR has been busy. We've had about 8 funerals in the last couple weeks. I RC'd Cpl Donte Whitworth. A very beautiful family. He was buried about ten miles from my house. Besides the Marine honor guard, a small group came in. Found out they (a Major, other Cpls and PFCs) were with Donte in Iraq. They were all home on leave but had come to Indy to be with Donte's family. To me, that speaks volumes about the character of the man.



Heading out (actually just got back...) to an IPGR members funeral this afternoon. He was killed earlier this week. Steve Ray. Owned a local pub and would often give a whole weekends profits to the PGR. He was killed when another driver turned left in front of him. Spoke with his kids (one daughter and two sons) this evening.



His older son (his name escapes me right now) said "he was doing what he loved. Riding on a nice day with friends. You can lie in a bed and wither away or you can just go... He preferred to go this way."



Stevie, you will be missed.



Hopefully this is the beginning of some regular posting and reading on my part. We'll see.



Please be safe and watch out for us riders, k? Thanks!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Pic from the Bash

Kinda says it all. Bigger post coming.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

The '09 Version

Remember this... 2008 Mid Winter Blues Bash?

The '09 version started yesterday. I'm leaving today at noon. DC (the bastard) is already there.
Update (with pictures) to follow some time next week after I sober up.

Everyone have a great weekend!

Catching up

Wow! Has it really been over a week… 5th to 15th, guess so.

With no job you probably are wondering what I am doing… Had to do one of the hardest things ever last Monday. KF, the facility manager, had me come back in after 5:00 pm and empty my desk.

Computer files and paper files took over 2 hours and I forgot one whole drawer. Got friends on the inside that will get the last few things for me. 17 years of work life fits, albeit, not so neatly, in the trunk of my car… plus one box on the back seat and one on the front seat. Slept till noon Tuesday, that was a bad day.

I think I know what depression feels like.

I just got the boxes out of the car today. Still can’t stand to look at or in them.

What else… Oh yeah! Saturday the 6th the IPGR had it annual Christmas party. The missus agreed to drive me home so I had a few. By 11:00 I was, how could I describe it, aahhh, yes “Shit Faced”! I haven’t seen any photographic evidence but I think it is out there. If I find some, I’ll post them. I remember a Hairy chest contest, barely. Missus says I won. Somewhere in there I was relegated to water. And some one (D who shall remain nameless C) has this physical anomaly when he does shots, his nipples get hard (so he says, I personal have not witnessed this oddity of nature). All of the wimmen folks had to feel this condition and confirm it was true. Then Angle (a guy) commented on ‘not getting to feel’ and was acting all pouty… I lost it. And of course it was just as I had taken a big mouthful of water. I blew, a.k.a. showered, everyone with mouth spray and about choked myself. Just in case she reads this, Dawn, I am SOOoooo sorry. (She caught the majority of it on the back of her head.) hahah ahem…. *snort* I really am sorry. *wipes tear*

Good times!

The ex-co-workers had a ‘going away thing’ for me at a local tavern on Wednesday. I don’t know why everyone thinks I want to do shots… It was a good time. Got to say g’bye to everyone. The 4th, the last day at work, was a, ‘by, see ya’ thing. They wouldn’t let me back to my desk, just wanted me out the door.

My half brother surprised us by coming to town the end of last week, so we had dinner with him. It’s been about 3 years since we’ve gotten together; it was good to see him. The wife says we are sooo alike, it’s scary. Makes one wonder how much of your personality is genetic and not learned. We grew up in separate families but we look more alike and act more alike than my full blood brother. Weird.

Went to the local Steelers bar this Sunday. Good gawd what a nail biter. Still a little horse from all of the screaming.

That brings us pretty much current.
I'm throwing resumes at everything I can right now. I did get a severance but it will run out, and that make knots in my stomach.

Touching The Face of Grace

I posted this one over at the Indiana Patriot Guard Riders blog.

Go.

Read.

Bring a tissue.

Road House Café

And Cocktails

A small hole in the wall place in Eagletown, IN.

In the 17 or so years I lived here, I’d bet we driven past this place 1,000 times. DC and I stopped in here on our way home form the Lebanon mission for Harold Hancock October 31st.

When you drive by, it’s a road side dive. Looks like a house that someone has turned into a restaurant. Complete with front porch and a mail box attached to one of the porch posts. I don’t know what I was expecting but again, for 17 years, this place has been here. Somebody eats here often enough that it stays in business and the sign and curb appeal wouldn’t attract the weary traveler.

Inside... not much better. Hardwood floors that look like they could be a hundred years old. One row of 4 or 5 booths against the wall, one row of tables down the center and a bar.

As we walk in, the first thing I noticed at a little after one-thirty in the afternoon is that the places was packed. Only one booth was available and the menus were placed on the table, that says to me 'seat yourself' or your gonna loose the only open place to sit down.

The waitress comes over, quick enough and has the usual pleasantries; “how are you guys today”, “Whacha drink’n?”, “Special today is meatloaf, with mashed potatoes and corn for $6.50”.

That was easy, 2 specials.

We look around the place and it see that it’s actually a bar. A good old Indiana, smoking permitted, buy a beer or shot of Jack at 8 AM, bar. They were serous about the ‘and Cocktails’ part of their sign.

The clientele looked and sounded like a group of locals. Yelling across the room, “Hey Joe! How ya been?’, and the reply returned, just as loud. Lunch conversations center around the days work. Someone was discussing brakes and turning rotors, “no body does it right anymore” said one old timer. “All the gawd damned ‘break’ places want to replace the fool rotor.” Says another, emphasizing his disgust with modern day ‘break places’.

Our food arrived fast and hot. Without asking, I’d guess everything was home made and the corn wasn’t canned. It was good. Meatloaf can be dry, this wasn’t, very moist with a good flavor. The rest of the menu had the distinct look of your standard bar fare, burgers, pork-tender-loin and breakfast served anytime.

I’m definitely going back to the Road Side Café and if you ever find yourself west of Westfield on SR-32 in Indiana. Stop in, get the special, tell’m DNR sent ya.

Close Call

Not me, a friend.

My buddy, Dirt Bike had to lay his scoot down a couple months ago. He is currently in his second cast but still has the wires and stuff.

I don’t get to see him too much any more since he has moved up to the Lansing, MI area.
If you have a minute, send him a good thought and a prayer.

This is his recount of the moments leading up to and through the accident.

*************

Often ya see in these posts some very good advice designed to keep your mc'ing experience a safe enjoyable one.

After much time to review my asphalt incident" of the 7th I’ve decided to describe ,in detail, what happened, Sort of a "heads-up”, "take what you can use” kind of thing.

Here goes.. first I was overtired, making me less than alert and more importantly not a good decision maker. 2nd I was riding on an unfamiliar road, at night not only was I unfamiliar with the road conditions, I didn’t even know the speed limit. :oops:

I’ve been riding scooters for most of the last 45 years, yes Specialk since I was about 30.. :lol: I’m pretty experienced in terms of saddle miles, road conditions weather conditions, equipment conditions but being human and subject to all the frailties of THAT condition.

I made some very serious mistakes that cost me a very nice, much loved motorcycle, a few patches of derma i had become very attached to, and a big inconvenience in my life/lifestyle for the next 3 months

so here goes:
I left a meeting in town, with friends and since it was a real nice ride’n night I opted to take the long way home. I turned onto a dark road that I had never even been on, in the daylight and began ,sloping ,2-3 mile grade uphill, about a mile into that, a truck on the side of this road made a u-turn in front of me, without even looking,

Not REAL close, but enough to irritate me, so I gassed it up so he could hear my angry pipes; mistake right there, I know better than to ride with my emotions on my sleeve roll but no harm, no foul, settled back in, and kept ride’n up the hill.

Just about a 100 yds b4 the hill crest, an oncoming car failed to dim as they topped the hill, I blink warned, ...they complied ...and I continued on up almost to the top now big mistake here...

QUESTION:

Should I have, on an unfamiliar dark road, with no concept of the conditions on the other Blind side, have immediately slowed down to scan and assess??/

ANSWER! ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!

Did I? ..No :oops:

I gassed it up even more, to make the top in style partly cuz of making overtired decisions, partly cuz I was still a little irritated, partly cuz it was a gorgeous night, the bike was running awesome and the pipes sounded great.

SOOoo.. When I crested the hill, my headlight reached for the stars then as the grade changed and the bike pointed down I became instantly aware, in that ,slow-motion kind of clarity, that while I was doing the "bright light warning" thing I had missed something...

a simple, black and yellow picture, that was a clue to what was going to be happening to me and my beloved motorcycle for the next 5-10 seconds.

A "T"

So I immediately threw out both anchors, but to no avail a rainstorm the night before had left an ugly 6 ft streak of sandy gravel, in my path of travel. The bike went sideways, immediacy, throwing me off the right side. I hit on the right side of my helmet, temple high. Then it was the bikers ballet for about 30 feet, bouncing, rolling and sliding to a quiet stop.

My beloved skooter, having about a ten foot lead on me was across the intersection, in the ditch, still faithfully playing ZZ Top full blast

"bout the shack outside LaGrange"

Then...

agony...

SOOOO...the next 45 minutes was all about age?
blood type?
any allergies to meds?
can ya feel this?
can ya move this?

WHOA,
don’t move that!!!

And...

"Wow man, has your foot always pointed in that direction?"

CAUTION LECTURE ZONE AHEAD

That HELMET and that LEATHER spared me and my family a lot of further inconvenience. I look at them thru different eyes now

RIDE SAFE!!!

dirt....

Love The Barn

There's a party @ the barn. anyone coming?

Has It Really Been a Year

I received this e-mail yesterday.

-------------------------------
From: info@patriotguard.org
Subject: PGR Forums - New Post RE: Mission Complete - Senior PGR Ride Captain, Greg Bowman, Princeton, IL., 14, 15 Sep 07
To: Indiana PGR members
Date: Monday, September 8, 2008, 3:58 PM
At 08 Sep 2008 2:58 PM a message was posted to a thread you were tracking.

RE: Mission Complete - Senior PGR Ride Captain, Greg Bowman, Princeton, IL., 14, 15 Sep 07
by Lawman747

It will be one Year tomorrow. Greg We could use you around here.


You will always be missed.
Dobbs

To view the complete thread and reply, please visit: http://www.patriotguard.org/ALLForums/tabid/61/view/topic/postid/634751/ptarget/967768/Default.aspx
-------------------------------

My first response was “a year, has it really been a year??” I cannot believe how much any one persons life or how much one family can be changed in 365 days.

It boggles, and humbles, the mind. I’m not going to rehash all of the events of the last year. Most of them are linked under the “Jeff Bowman” tag on the left. Even I haven’t had the heart to relay them all here. Go to Da BearzFan and check out the last 2 or 3 months.

Not a day goes by that I don’t say a prayer or a God bless for this family. Please join me.

Anti-Bucket List

”Yeah, if ya get that far, then suddenly decide that you need to make a list of shit to do just before you eat your final shitburger; your life wasn't much worth living in the first place.” - dick (snagged from hoosierboy’s “FAT IN INDIANA” comments)

dick is right on. If you wait till then... it IS too too late. hb has the right idea, an “Anti-Bucket List”. Although not as extensive as his and some nearly the same as his, here is mine.

I’ve...
1. been to Scotland and seen the home of Robert Burns (great, great uncle) and seen the festivities in Edinburgh.
2. raised (assisted my wife) two wonderful young men
3. ridden to Washington DC with Rolling Thunder and 400,000 other bikers Patriots
4. attended the internment of a Vietnam Veteran at Arlington National Cemetery
5. held and said good bye to a beloved pet family member as he went to sleep for the last time
6. mentored several in my profession and am proudly watching them succeed
7. been to Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and the Badlands
8. ridden to Lake Superior
9. attended my sons graduation from Marine Boot Camp
10. loved and been loved by a strong woman
11. built and lived in my dream house
12. looked in the eye of the mother and father of a fallen soldier, thanked them, hugged them and cried with them

Weekend Catch Up

Damn Flooding

And rain... enough is enough, this is just ridiculous.

Saturday we were to ride for a local police department to raise money for their auxiliary. Left the house in the rain. Rode for about 2 hours in the rain.

They canceled the ride while we were on our way... too much rain.

Sunday we were going to escort a bus or two of special needs kids (burn victims) to a special needs camp in south central Indiana, Brown County... too much rain. They didn’t want he kids to be in the damp and muddy environment so it has been postponed.

SO, we rode, around. Saturday we ended up at Russ’. The infamous Barn I’ve blogged about here a couple times.

Had a shot... well maybe two... and a beer.
DC got some ink work (see below)



Sunday we ended up riding around. (Is it just me or is there a pattern here...?) Ended up in some ‘300 population’ small town in west Indiana. Had a real neat covered bridge and some home make ice cream.

Rode just over 400 miles. Trying to get my ass in shape for the long haul and 1,000 mile day coming up in July. We may have modified our goal to be 1,500 miles in 36 hours instead of the 1,000 in 24 hours.

My Memorial Weekend

Gov Daniels was instrumental in passing Indiana’s law restricting protests at funerals. Basically, it does not disallow them but limits them to “ending one hour before and not restarting until one hour after the actual service” and “they can only gather on public propriety”. Most of the schools are in residential neighborhoods and the nearest ‘public’ place has been as much as a mile away.

This law has kept the UGs (Uninvited Guests) away. So much so that we don’t really see them in Indiana any more.

Even if you disagree with most of his political view points and policies, he did right by our heros. And for that I was honored when I was invited to ride with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels in the Indianapolis 500 Race Parade.

This is my wife and I in front of the Governor’s residence just before we rode down to the parade staging area.

Summer Ride

Me and DC are going to see some parts of the contry on our bikes this summer. We're meeting in Kansas City and will leave there Sunday afternoon. the goal is to be back in Indy by the following Saturday. Of course we'll start here in Indy. This round trip route is 3,929 miles. The B to C leg is just under 1,000 miles. With exits and what not it should exceed 1k. That will earn us the Iron Ass award.

The fun starts July 20. this is just a proposed route... things could change.



View Larger Map


It's gonna be a blast!!

Wish you could join us.

Saturday

The INPGR had a mission early Saturday. A member's father had passed away while on missionary work. He was a Korea War vet.

Afterwards, we went to The Barn...

Four hogs feet and a bucket of drip'ns. Has to mean a party at The Barn.

Actually didn't drink a drop. Ate lots of pulled pork and just hung out.

A group of about 10 of us ran to N. Manchester for Brett's and Dawn's wedding.

I know blurry, but you get the idea.

It was a great weekend, how was yours?