I know this will be a real short report, but I thought I should share it anyway.
Saturday, Nov 24 (my birthday!) I had the chance to take my stepdaughter out on my bike. The whole run was for seven miles, but she thought we went 20 or more. She has been asking scene this summer to ride with me. I finally, broke down and took her for that ride. I have been worried about taking her out with her injuries. This little lady is a vet, and a bomb took out the hummer she was driving. For a year and half, I watched her slowly heal physically, but mentally, we still have a ways to go. When she got back state side, her own family disowned her because as they put it she is not the same little girl that left. My youngest daughter was able to become her friend and the next thing we knew, she was one of our kids.
Ok, now that I got the history done. Here we go.
I suited her up in my wife's gear. I admit it was big for her. While she was gearing up, I told her how to be a passenger on a bike. Starting up the bike to let it warm up, she was skipping around the bike like a young girl. It did my soul good to see her that happy for once. With help from her new boyfriend (which I had the Dad duty, You know the famous talk about dating my daughter), she was able to get behind me on the seat and put her arms around me. I slowly pulled off the concrete drive to the gravel section of your driveway. She graded me tight. I stopped at the county road, looked both ways and pulled out. I went to the next road where I could pick up my speed to 55. She was just laughing at the top of her lungs. Half though the run it started raining. So I started heading back. She was disappointed at us having to return, but understood. When we pulled back into the garage she was helped off the bike. She gave my wife and me a big hug and thanked us. With tear-filled eyes, she told us that she loved us and that she was thankful to have parents like us.
Being my smarta#$ self, I told her it was only a ride. Of course I was hit by my wife and Kara.
First picture us pulling back into the garage.
(http://www.arkriders.com/gallery/d/6159-2/PA012550.JPG)
Second picture she talking to her boyfriend (Like he important).
(http://www.arkriders.com/gallery/d/6156-1/PA012551.JPG)
Third picture standing beside me after helping her off the bike.
(http://www.arkriders.com/gallery/d/6152-2/PA012553.JPG)
Very cool post. Happy Birthday, and best wishes for the "little vet lady". :thumb:
It's horrible enough for a family to disown their child if the child did something wrong, but it's a whole new level of low to disown anybody who was injured defending our country... I could go on for a while about this but I digress. I applaud you for giving an eager motorcycle lover a ride and making sure they understand the safety aspect of it as well. My girlfriend has been wanting to ride with me, but I have only been riding a couple of months so I'm delaying that for now (although she is experienced as a passenger as she has friends in the Patriot Guard that she has ridden with). I'm glad to hear she had a good time with the ride :thumb:
Excellent! I see a couple of big smiles there. :icon_mrgreen:
Good for you for helping this young lady out. She's obviously been down one hell of a hard road. Why ANY family would disown their own child for being injured serving their country is totaly beyond me. Your story made my day. I wish her good luck in her continuted recovery.
She's got a strong will, a great smile and likes motorcycles. I'd date her anyday! :thumb:
Happy birthday, Whitewolf!
That is awesome what you are doing for your stepdaughter. ( Or should I say daughter now?) I would be honored to ride with you two any day. :thumb:
PJ.
Quote from: GeeP on November 28, 2007, 01:05:05 PM
Good for you for helping this young lady out. She's obviously been down one hell of a hard road. Why ANY family would disown their own child for being injured serving their country is totaly beyond me.
You wouldn't believe just how common it is, families disowning their kids or relatives or friends just because they went to serve their country. There is no doubt what so ever that been in a conflict zone will have a profound effect on your life and how you see your life. I mean are you going to come back from a place where you could have been killed and put up with listening to one of your parents telling you how crap a war it is and whinging about the nail they broke, things like going to conflict zones put life in perspective and can create a lot of friction in a family.
I don't think alot of family's stick to the fundamental role of been a family, i.e family comes first. No matter what you think of the war, no matter what you think of your child, brother whatever. You should be doing what you can to stay a strong family not push someone away because you don't share their same views/opinions. Especially when its your siblings. Fair enough if husband and wife don't get along then you can't force it but if someone is family their family.
I have a friend who was in the royal marines, he left a few years ago but his wife left him when he got back from operations. He was changed, he'd seen and done things which were so unreal that he could never be rehabilitated into civilian life, he didn't know how to speak to people, he didn't have feelings much about anything it was all blocked away, mostly through his training which was reinforced by operations he had been on. He isn't the same person he used to be and spend alot of time alone and struggles to hold down a normal job.
He was captured on operations and wounded (broken leg) but escaped and ran 20+ miles across country on a broken before he was picked up by a friendly patrol and shipped back here, i mean i spent along time before i ever asked him about it but he said you were trained to block out pain hence why he made it back but i reckon sometimes he wishes he hadn't
Annnnyway sorry to thread jack!
There can't be anything much better than been the one to fulfill someones dream almost!
This is so cool. You are one heckuva guy, and I'll bet your "new" daughter can heal a lot better with a family who suipports her. You'll be rewarded for your kindness!
A therapy motorcyclist, that's what you are! :thumb:
Made me cry too.
Great pictures and a great story. I love the "first time on a motorcycle" grin. And happy belated birthday!
Look at those smiles ! First time on a bike, with her new dad. Awesome.
It's obvious you enjoyed taking her out, but she's glowing. :)
Did she get to see the 'wave' from other motorcyclists ?
Fantastic smile. Rock on girl ! O0