As If I Don’t Worry Enough
by FireMom ~ June 11th, 2008. Filed under: Living Life.Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our feed.
It’s really Oh My Stinkin Heck’s fault. Or, it’s her Husband’s fault. When she made “the” post, I said I wasn’t going to show my FireDad. OMSH’s Husband e-mailed me and implored me to share. FireDad admired the bike. I thought that was the end of the conversation.
Then, a few months later, it came up again. I didn’t take it seriously. I didn’t know he meant business. I didn’t know that he really took it as a sign when, while discussing the purchase of a motorcycle, we passed our Pastor out on his motorcycle, grinning from ear to ear. FireDad said, “It’s a sign from God!” I laughed.
Then, a week or so later, he purchased that same motorcycle we were talking about that day in the truck.
My initial reaction was anger. I’ll admit it. I didn’t think he was serious. And while it was a used bike and, as such, not uber-expensive, it was still a rather large purchase for us not to have been in an understanding agreement ahead of time. My anger quickly dissipated, as it always does (because? have you seen how handsome FireDad is? I lose every time!) and was quickly replaced by fear.
I mean, HELLO? The guy RUNS INTO BURNING BUILDINGS! Isn’t that enough of an adrenaline rush? Do I need just one more thing to worry about? Obviously I can’t place him in a bubble but, oh, how my heart worries at times. Part of it is my anxious nature. The rest of it is that he is such an amazing father to these kids and such an awesome Husband to me… that the thought of losing him is almost paralyzing. I’ve learned to live with the fire aspect (somewhat) over the years. I know who I married. I accepted it willingly. But this motorcycle fear is new. And big. And scary.
Thankfully, also being a Paramedic, he’s not a moron. He has promised that he will never ride without his helmet so as not to pull a Ben Roethlisberger. He’s been on enough accidents to have seen the results of helmetless riding. And so, I trust him on that one. But I don’t trust you, dear reader, not to run him over while rushing to the store because you ran out of milk and your kids are screaming over who gets to hold Thomas the Train in the backseat because you absolutely refuse to buy two of every train and, oh yes, you forgot to call your Mom back and so you’re fiddling with your cell phone at the same time and, of course, in your rush to leave the house you forgot your sunglasses on this blasted hot summer day so you’re squinting and it’s okay if you push it through that yellow light that is just turning red just this one time, right? Or am I talking specifically about myself?
All the same, the motorcycle took some work and some paint and it’s been at our friend’s house in his building for awhile. I’ve had some time to get used to the idea of my husband just feet from big bad vehicles that could squash him flat. Mine included. And just as I got used to the idea of it… the work was finished and home he rode last night.
I admired it. I took pictures. I made jokes to hide my nerves. But they were there. And they were still there this morning.
He woke up for his 24-hour shift the same as every third day since we’ve been together. But I didn’t go back to sleep like normal. I listened to him shower, get dressed and get things together. He came in to kiss me and say goodbye. And I heard him go out the front door. And I got up, grabbed the camera and went out to sit on our front porch. We laughed as he threw his backpack on that it was like the first day of school. I snapped pictures as he got on the bike and drove down our lane.
And I called later to make sure he made it to work okay.
The worry isn’t gone yet. Then again, I wonder if it ever will. He’s my Husband. He’s the Father of my two amazing boys. He’s my best friend, my confidante and my sparring partner. He listens to all of my whining, complaining, ranting… and raving, celebrating and general self-importance. He lets me win at Wii Tennis sometimes and occasionally takes me to school in Scrabble. Why wouldn’t I worry?
But, oh, folks. The whole fire fighter work pants plus motorcycle? Well, ahem, let me say: yum.
(But, can I just say NO to this post on OMSH’s site? NO. NO. NO.) (Also? Don’t ask me specs. All I know: Honda, older, revamped.)
June 11th, 2008 at 11:22 am
dude, I was all getting teary reading this (why? i don’t know, because I’m an emotional fool, there I said it!) but the last line had me cracking up! and I second that yum!
Be safe Firedad.
(and because what you’ve said about showing the post that started it all to firedad, I will not be sharing this post with adam!)
June 11th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Ceece; Hopefully FireDad won’t pull a Mr. OMSH on you and drop you an e-mail! HA!
June 11th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
My bf, Rob, bought a Yamaha R6 about a month ago. He was afraid I was mad. I told him I had 3 rules: don’t be stupid (always wear a helmet and don’t fly down the highway at 100mph), if you can no longer afford payments, you have to sell it, and there are to be no girls I “dislike” riding on the back of it. Haha. He laughed and said he agreed.
As for fear of him riding it…it multiplied ten times when I agreed to ride on the back!!! What was I thinking??
So, don’t be stupid FireDad! But enjoy your new bike.
June 11th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Amanda; I’ve been on the back of a bike before though it’s been a long time. I can’t say that I have any desire to jump on right now. Though I did tell FireDad that for me to do so, my helmet has to be pink. He agreed.
June 11th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Ugh, Aaron has been BEGGING for a motorcycle for months, especially now that gas is so expensive. He wants one to go to work and back. I’m way too nervous - even wearing a helmet, there should be some kind of barrier between person and pavement speeding by at 30, 40, 50 mph - a barrier that is harder than leather.
June 11th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
As a (former) rider myself, I applaud you for being so understanding about FireDad’s new interest. I myself stopped riding when Keri got pregnant, but I still feel the desire to get on now and then, especially since I haven’t actually gotten rid of the motorcycle yet.
I would suggest a jacket (armored, if possible) and a pair of gloves for him - they are relatively cheap, and keep your hands from wind-burn, bug splatters (surprisingly painful), and road rash for when he drops his bike. He could add some pants that fit over his work clothes to extend his riding season (subtract 30 degrees from the air temperature to get the feeling of riding at 55mph - it gets cold quick!) and provide more protection. If I wasn’t so much bigger than him, I’d offer to send you mine.
Gear for riding gets expensive, but I feel its worth it.
And for your edification, its an early 90’s Honda VTR250 - a GREAT beginners bike. Kudos!!
June 11th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Ted; I figured you’d comment on this post! And I’m glad you did. His ride to work is about a mile but I’m sure it could get nippy in the process. (As you can see, he wore his work sweatshirt this morning because it hit a low of 58 this morning.) Anyway, I was wondering about jackets and gloves and other stuff. It’s a whole big new world of purchasing that I don’t quite know enough about yet!
June 11th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Christina; I agree. FireDad caught me with the gas mileage as well. It seems silly to fire up the car/truck when his place of work is a mile away. Of course, I suggested he could simply ride his PEDAL bike and he looked at me like I had four heads. Alas.
June 11th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
The ride is nice on the back of a Harley, though I’m not too crazy about crotch rockets. Still, I’m glad he got his bike. Every man needs a “bike” - whether that is an actual motorcycle or some other death defying, motorizing thing.
Glad to see he has a helmet.
Sometimes Mr. OMSH doesn’t.
THAT scares me.
June 11th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
First of all–year-long lurker (I found you from a google on Mom hair–mine is currently growing out and I don’t think yours looks like Mom hair). My husband bought a bike last August after riding my brother’s motard for a year–two weeks after my brother had a wreck that left him on crutches for a semester. I second the armored jacket, gloves, and heavy pants. If my brother had not been in protective gear, he would have been hurt a lot worse. My rules for my husband are (1) helmet always, (2) preventative maintance required, (3) protective gear (as much as the Florida climite allows), and (4) good insurance. Hope FireDad likes his bike and doesn’t want to upgrade soon (the curse of my family!)
June 11th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I borrowed a friend’s helmet for the time being. Rob actually told me he would buy me a pink one. Bright pink. He was going to get it for my birthday a few weeks ago, but I told him to wait. I don’t see myself riding all that often yet. YAY PINK HELMETS!
June 12th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Boys and their stupid stress-inducing toys. Hmph.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:38 am
OMSH: Tell Mr. OMSH that it really could save his life. FireDad has witnessed enough wrecks and cleaned up enough smashed faces (alive and not-so-alive) to never get on the bike without one.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Hadley; Thanks to some suggestions from his friends who ride and my friends who ride, we’re researching which protective gear will be most awesome. Thanks for de-lurking! WOO!
June 12th, 2008 at 10:40 am
BurghBaby; What IS it about them? Grr.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I am with you on the nerves thing. After you told us that Josh got a motorcycle I told Tom he couldn’t have one. He kinda laughed at me, only halfway agreeing. I told him, it’s not his skills with a bike I questions (I’ve ridden with him before on his dad’s motorcycle), it’s all the other crazies on the road.
I do agree Josh needs a jacket with some protection, padding. They make him with liners for winter, and then without the liners they breathe well for the summer.
And, at some point, because every motorcycle owner does it, he will burn himself on the tailpipe - they all do