As a child I remember watching my dad’s best friend ride around on his cool motorcycle. I grew up seeing him riding around on a Harley wearing nothing but a pair of old boots, beat up jeans, leather vest, bandanna, and a pocket watch sticking out of his vest pocket. I thought he looked super cool and mean even though I knew he was a big teddy bear on the inside.

The one question I always asked him was “What if you fall off without a shirt on? The road will hurt you.” He’d always pat me on my head and tell me “Niffer, don’t you worry about me.  I’m too hard headed to get hurt.” Yes, he called me “Niffer”, but that’s another story for another day.

I’m sure he didn’t expect me to grow up to be a motorcycle enthusiast, but here I am. We’ve ridden with him a few times, but last year I told him I wouldn’t go on a ride with him anymore unless he wore a helmet. He laughed and told me he was too old for one. I shook my head and told him I wouldn’t ride with him then because I wouldn’t be a witness to his own stupidity.  The man might be able to say he’s never had a serious wreck in his life, but that doesn’t give him the right to say one will never happen.
I haven’t seen him in months, but I received a phone call today that shocked and delighted me at the same time. He called to ask me to do a very big favor for him, and he explained that he felt it was important that I was the person to do this favor for him for an important reason. He wants me to go with him to find a motorcycle jacket, helmet, and proper riding boots. My heart jumped for joy when I heard him say that.

Why has he had a change of heart? His young nephew was killed 2 weeks ago on his motorcycle when a car pulled out in front of him. He wasn’t wearing any protective gear at all…not even a helmet.

It goes to show sometimes it does take a life altering experience or the loss of a life to change someone’s mind, and as sad as the situation is, I keep thinking to myself it happened for a reason. For my entire 26 years and longer this man has never once worn a helmet, and now he has decided he won’t ride again until he has one.

I promised first thing Saturday morning we’ll take a trip to the local dealership to pick out his helmet, jacket, boots, and hopefully I’ll convince him to grab a decent pair of gloves that aren’t cut off at the knuckles.

I can thank my best friend Allison for pointing me in the direction of this super awesome shirt.

I’ll be submitting an order for it tomorrow as soon as I get paid. Where did she find it? The shirt is one of three currently being offer by Tear Off Tees. What I love the most is that these shirts are designed by a female motorcycle rider who has been riding on the street since the age of 16. At 21 she has now taken her skills to the track, and is using the profits from Tear Off Tees towards the chance at a career in professional racing.