Ok, so many folks want to know why one rides a motorcycle. This question is typically followed by an uncool statement about how "everyone dies" riding a bike, which I will address shortly.

I ride because I believe in living my life my way, because any day for any reason could be my last. My philosophy is the much quoted sentiment (at least by people like me), "My body will be ridden hard, worn-out, and bruised when it goes to the grave." Or something like that... probably a little more poetic. For me, I feel alive when I ride my bike. I feel electricity flowing through my veins. I'm aware of everything and nothing at the same time. I'm awake with the tension of fear, excitement, and a love of life. The wind buffets my body and my bike and I feel uplifted. I pull up next to my husband at a light and we look at each other with bug-eating grins, closer ...on a different plane.

Now, to those freaks who insist on telling me and mine some sick story. I'm not sure what your problem is... because your stories and warnings are certainly NOT meant to keep me from riding (cuz yer too late). I think you are a killjoy, lame-o, that is trying to take the joy out of someone else's life. This message is for you...

1) No, dude, not everyone wrecks or dies in a bike accident (why on earth would they be legal if that were the case?)
2) A large portion of people who do die in wrecks are killed in wrecks caused by 1) rider error (read... lack of real training -learning from your buddy doesn't count... unless s/he is a rider instructor) OR 2) jerks who "didn't see the bike" (read I was too busy with my own life, talking on my cell phone, to actually look for anything larger than a SUV).
3) The previous point means that rider training mitigates quite a bit of risk (learning to ride defensively with skill means you can react to idiot car drivers).
4) A lot of people die in car accidents, or did you forget that?
5) Everyone dies. You are going to die too (probably from cancer or heart disease).
6) I've been around four deaths. None of the deaths were related to bikes and two were due to car accidents (it's not fun trying to pull a car off of someone struggling for their life)
7) I almost died after two of my surgeries (not related to bikes...heart paddles anyone?).
8) The point I'm trying to make with the previous two points is that I'm completely aware that I could die due to any number of causes at any time. So, I choose to LIVE my life like each day could be my last (b/c it could be).
9) Keep your negative attitude to yourself.