A Celebration - A Graduation

This is a quick posting that I cannot pass up. When I came to the Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders, some people didn't know how to take me. You see, I am from the Midwest - Missouri in fact. One of the tried and true characteristics of a Midwesterner is that we have never met a stranger. Midwesterners are like that, we are friendly, polite folk. We will give the shirt off our backs if you need it more than we do. That is just the we are.

Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders is tempered with a melting pot of personality types. I have been riding with them for just a little over a year. As a Midwesterner I worked hard to win people over and help them drop their suspicions of me. The suspicions were simply because I was friendlier than the average Northeasterner. From what you have read already you know I am not a Northeasterner. You can take the girl out of the Midwest, but you cannot take the Midwest of of the girl.

In the midst of Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders I found a kindred spirit. Come to find out she is from the Midwest also - Michigan. When I started with Connecticut Patriot Guard Marcia greeted me with open arms and I was so relieved to find out there was someone who understood the friendliness, the open door hospitality, the "never-met-a-stranger" attitude. In being a new rider and being a new member she became my safety blanket. I look for her every mission. Marcia, (known as Perky because is what she is perky) is my confidant. We share things between the two of us and I know what I share with her goes no where else. She understands me. I like to think I understand her. We live fairly close to each other.

After I graduated from the Honda Rebel 250 motorcycle to my current ride, my Sportster, there was some thought of her buying the Honda Rebel. The timing wasn't quite right. She always rode as backrest with her Teddy-Bear Husband - Greg. They ride every where and attend countless Patriot Guard Rider missions. Marcia has had her license for a couple of years, she just didn't feel ready to get her own ride yet. Timing and comfortably is important.

This week I learned Marcia got her own ride about 2 weeks ago. It is this is my dear friend, Marcia's new ride:

Marcia had been practicing around town and in a parking lot until she was ready. Day before yesterday she emailed me sharing that she got up to 50 mph. I am just as excited for her as she is for herself.

Today Marcia graduated. Today, my dear friend Marcia rode her first Patriot Guard Rider mission as a solo rider. I was not able to attend this mission, but my Jack attended. He shared with me how excited Marcia was and wanted to make sure he shared with me that she was on her own two wheels. I had a feeling she was ready and I was hoping today would have been the day. Here is my dear friend, Marcia with her ride:

So I write this blog in celebration of my dear Marcia and her step forward of riding her own. This is fan-damn-static!

“A woman who rides a motorcycle is in tune with the universe, a candidate for high adventure.” Celestine Sibley