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The husband disappeared for a few hours yesterday and since him being quiet is usually dangerous, I investigated.

After searching the house, grounds and barn to no avail, I found him in the garage… where he’d pulled out one of our motorcycles.

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It’s a Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan which we used to ride all the time. Or rather, as much as Maine weather would allow. We bought our first bike back in the 90’s when we lived in North Carolina. Much longer riding season there, though I did hate wearing a helmet.

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We’ve had a parade of different bikes over the years, like this custom Harley the husband just had to buy …

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You know, the one that’s currently covered, buried in the back of the garage and collecting cobwebs.

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We’ve enjoyed them all and have toured New England from the mountains to the coast.

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We’ve taken scenic day trips and hit the annual rallies. Down south it was Myrtle Beach, up here it was Laconia.

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Where parking can be a wee bit tight.

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We’ve done countless charity rides and poker runs.

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And supported the Toys for Tots Run every September.

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Hundreds of big bad bikers…

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Coming together to make Christmas morning a little brighter for underprivileged children.

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Yes, that’s Senator Angus King. He was Maine’s Governor for years and rode with us quite often.

We’ve loved our bikes and enjoyed riding for decades.

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But in 2017 my husband had triple bypass surgery and things changed. It’s a dramatic as well as life altering procedure which I don’t recommend. Not one little bit. The recovery was a long emotional roller coaster and though he eventually came through it, physically he wasn’t the same man. He lost a lot of weight, which was good…. but a lot of muscle mass went with it. Motorcycles be heavy. So the bikes were covered and garaged.

Oh, we took them out now and then… but just for short cruises. And in the past 2 years? Nothing. Nada. Not one single ride. To be honest my knee injury makes it uncomfortable, but mostly it’s just getting to be too much. My husband is 75 and I’m fine with him hanging up the leather. Last year I suggested selling the two we have left and buying a sweet little convertible…. but he’s having a hard time letting go.

Aging is hard. And admitting you might have physical limitations for a retired Marine? Even harder. I understand, and don’t push. But when I went out to the garage and found him washing and polishing the Kawi I was hopeful.

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He asked about the registration sticker not being current and said we’d have to renew it if we planned on selling her.

Saying goodbye is a process.

This might be the first step.

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