So that "If you wanna make God laugh, make a plan" came by way of a cancer diagnosis on Christmas Eve 2006. I spent the whole following Christmas Day on a 24 hour fire shift with no one available to consult with--panicked now in retrospect. Ah but that is now 2 1/2 years distant and life is good, even with a bit of cancer.
The movie "Bucket List" really gets at what a good dose of the cancer or other life challenge can do to sharpen life goals and "how you invest your time". I have long enjoyed motorcycling and our firefighter kid's charities--SIDECAR was an opportunity to share my passions, the journey, with those who might otherwise not be able to take on this two-wheeled world.
I bid on a California Friendship III sidecar on eBay and became the lucky owner of this large double-wide car toward the end of 2007. Poor Tracy was weak of mind when she said 'yes' as we were told I might be looking at a Stage 4 or metastatic diagnosis with aggressive prostate cancer June of that year--not the best of news.
The beautiful car in it's gray and black livery arrived in the back of a pick-up truck from Kansas City as the owner chose to drive all the way to Colorado to deliver it. The car was FULL of new stuffed animals for kids. Disabled Vet Davy Jones was all-in with the concept--his underutilized sidecar would now serve the kids and vets.
By February 2008 the car was hooked up and undergoing it's first thousands of smiles. Son Hunter rode a night in 18 F weather, stating he was toasty and happy in the enclosed car. The first week I found a two year old boy attached to the car when I came out of the post office. I knew the sidecar had hit the mark with kids. Lorenz' mom later gave me the honor of being the entertainment for the his third birthday that summer. We motored up on the scenic backdrop of Boulder and NCAR--all the kids, 3 to 55 years old, got their giggle therapy that day.
Since that time, the car has supported Ride for Kids, Frank's Ride, Denver Burn Camp Run, Patriot Guard missions, Rocky Mountain Toy Run, and Make-A-Wish (people in the know grasp the irony of that one). And wow--it IS great therapy for ME. Wherever the car goes, it receives interest and provides smiles for all kids. The kids are just the kids--the immediate experiences are what they are, laughter, fun, kid-size vehicle, and motorcycles. Vets see possibilities where before they may have felt constrained by injuries or disabilities. And me? I cannot spend but a few seconds on my own considerations--I am among the greatest of my heroes. I am with courageous folks taking on their lives and LIVING with their circumstances. I am with folks who determine how their lives go--they pay little attention to their circumstances which are their circumstances. They demonstrate a great creedo--"LIFE! Live it!"
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