Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Patty Wall (Woodland)

Thank you Jeff!  You are so busy catching our memories I hope you had time to enjoy the reunion! Tons of work on your part has produced tons of enjoyment on my part!  Thank you  thank you!!!

Julie Wickham (Sawyer)

Jeff, thanks for posting the reunion pictures. I wasn't able to attend this time, and really enjoyed looking at the video! 

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

I know how much many of you love your mototcycles. My next door neighbor loved his too. My husband and I saw him bring it out yesterday and park it at the end of his driveway. It was beautiful - an incredibly dark shade of sparkling purple and brilliantly shiny chrome everywhere.

My husband went out on an errand last night and on the way back, just 2 blocks from our house, encountered an accident involving a motorcycle and a car that had just happened. We heard sirens as he was coming in the door. He came home and told me about it and said, I don't know for sure but I think it might have been John.

We wondered about it all day, then cars started gathering in front of the neighbors house. Then John's step son arrived and I asked him if he was going to see John. He told me that John had passed away. I said OMG, was it a motorcycle accident? He said yes. Apparently John had been driving south on 40th West and had the right of way. A person in a Honda traveling north on 40th West made a left turn right in front of him. She claimed she didn't see him and some witnesses said she may have been on her cell phone. John's bike went under the car and John was thrown into and over the car and landed a fair ways away - he wasn't wearing a helmet. It was bad enough that my husband couldn't really identify the bike or the person. My husband is not the type to intrude or get in the way of things but I wished he had stopped to see if he could have been of aid.

So here's what I'd like to say to my motorcycle loving fellow Cubbies: Be careful out there, practice defensive driving when you're on your motorcycle, ALWAYS wear your helmet whenever you're riding. I have always hated motorcycles because the persons riding them are so vulnerable. Any conversation that came up about my husband owning one was immediately shut down. I would hate to see your loved ones lose you in this manner.

Suzanne Peel (Felt)

I just posted some pictures I took at the 45th South High Class Reunion.  Thank you to everyone that organized and attended this function.  It was so much fun to see you all.

Richard Smith

Candida Bettinson (Jensen)

We ride often and sometimes far...but always with a helmet and protective gear to at least give us a chance.  People who ride without helmets (I believe they think it makes them look more 'cool') need to have their heads examined...and often do, if they live at all in an accident.  My brother in law recently hit a deer in Colorado.  His helmet definitely saved his life, and although his 'leathers' were shredded...they saved most of he and his wife's skin.

Sadly enough, you have to be ALWAYS on the defense, because it seems nobody sees or cares to see you.  With all of the more recent extra distractive driving, it is much more of a danger.  PLEASE, everyone drive safe...and watch for motorcycles!  Remember, we are saving fuel and polution with what we ride.  You could at least appreciate us for that much. 

Jerald DeGraw

Oh, dear, these stories are very troubling !  I had heard about an accident on 40th West, but when it comes closer to home by reading this, the reality becomes harsher :-( Paul, I now realize how inept I am when it comes to computers, Forums, etc ( well, everything for that matter ), cuz I thought I just read You are selling all of Your bikes ( can't find it now ), AND asking who is up for a Fall Color Ride - Those two don't jive, but I AM up for one, pointy helmut and all :-)

---Herr DeGrawski

PS - Enjoying all of the pix, comments etc concerning the Reunion - Thanks to Everyone who made it possible and to those who came ( as well as to those who would like to have come, but could not ), especially to those who travelled FAR and WIDE or who otherwise sacrificed :-)

PS2 - Writing (?) this with Paul's Big Band Muse playing in the background :-)

Jerald DeGraw

Ha, Love it ! :-)

--Gold Wing 

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Paul, I'm sorry if I upset you all for expressing my concern. I don't know motorcycle etiquette.  And even before I saw the Taiwanese video you posted, I knew why you love riding. I'm sure the sensation is close to flying,

It's interesting, though. I was discussing this with my husband yesterday morning before I saw your post. I was in Taiwan in 1997. I told my husband that when I was in Taiwan I had a personal tour and my driver told me that Taiwan had a population of 20 million and 11 million motorcycles. I said, I bet they are much better at SEEING motorcycles than they are here in the US. I have to tell you that traffic signs, lights and patterns were minimal and I would really hate to have been driving there.

The problem is not with the motorcycles (though I really hate those high speed bikes that weave in and out of traffic - usually with teenagers or 20 somethings on them) but with lousy drivers who don't see them.

By the way, I had to look up the current demograhics for Taiwan which now has a population of 23 million. There are 15.09 million motorcycles in Taiwan, or 67.6 for every 100 people, according to the latest government figures.

PS - I loved the video.

Ross Olson

Hi Paul,

What are your thoughts for a color run?   Sounds like fun.

Ross

Bart Croxford

Sorry to change the subject, but here is a clip about Vietnam POWs' tribute to Richard Nixon.  I guess he wan't all bad.

Dowie VanderWerff

Excellent Bart!  Thank you!  We should never forget!

Candida Bettinson (Jensen)

Wow, Bart!  Thank you for sharing that. So very touching!  It is remarkable to see more of the courage of these men.  We have some motorcycling friends that were a part of this, but I don't ever remember hearing all this on the news. 

Paul, we would have loved to join you this weekend for a Fall color ride, but I have a wedding openhouse for my son.  We have the Alpine Loop scheduled with the TRA on the 10th of October, but I am so afraid it will be too late for the colors.

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Take pictures to share with the rest of us if you can!

Ross Olson

Paul,

Sounds like a plan to me.   I will be there at 9:30 Saturday morning.   I am going to see if my son has plans or if he can join us.   Sounds like a perfect ride for me as I get back to riding after not having a bike for 8 years.

Ross

Jerald DeGraw

I am def going to try and make it, although I have Fam coming in from out of town - I'll know more today :-) Today ( Fri ) would have been ideal, but does ideal even exist anymore ? :-) If I can only come for a short time, is anyone wanting to try a ride on Mon, weather permitting, to do the Alpine Loop ? 

--Loopy ( yes, another migraine today :-(

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

I don't necessarily approve but it is humorous. (I did edit it a bit, by the way.)

Jerald DeGraw

Ha, it was GREAT meeting with The Boys on the Bikes this morning !!!! :-)

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Thanks for the pics! It looks like it was beautiful.

Jerald DeGraw

Sweet ! :-)

PS - Char, I really dig that story :-)

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Maybe if I get one of these I can ride with you guys next time. 

Ross Olson

Paul,  thanks for thinking of having a fall ride.   It was great fun and a perfect day.   Hopefully this will be a continuing tradition.   It was crazy to then see you on Sunday in Elberta.

Here are a couple of photos.  Needed to prove that Paul was there.

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Connie Godfrey (Mascherino)

It is great that you guys put together a fall motorcycle ride but I do not see enough participants. Our family's love is riding IN the hills up close to the beautiful fall colors on our ATVs. I refer to my 4 wheeler as my "old person's motorcycle (I need 4 wheels on the ground) where I can ride as fast or slow as I am comfortable. I love to feel the wind on my face as I encounter wildlife big and small, speed through cool streams, and stop to take pictures and eat lunch,.There are so many beautiful places to ride and/or camp that maybe next year we should get together an additional ride to include a variety of machines and classmates. What do you think, is there any interest out there?   At this time I would like to add my appreciation for the great reunion! I was delighted to see so many wonderful classmates. My observation was that we have all aged together, there was no longer any pressure to seek our place in the social world of high school. We have been living our lives the best way we can and hopefully have many more years ahead. It is a time to be good friends, able to enjoy the memories of our years together at  SOUTH HIGH.....hopefully we will have an even bigger group for our 50th!  Thank you everyone, I love you all.