The Keys Have Passed
A few weeks ago, I was able to do something I thought I'd never be able to do: give my
son a motorcycle. When I picked up a new ride, a gorgeous VTX 1800, my old bike became the spare. Because it's over ten years old, the trade-in value on that bike is practically zilch, but it still looks and runs great. I was tempted to hold
on to it, just because it's so hard to part with. But, my son's been pining away for a bike ever since he got out of the service last year. He's going to school to become a Physician's Assistant, his car went belly up, and he's just recently
gotten married, so putting out the bucks for a bike just wasn't in the cards for him. That's where I came in. Of course, I couldn't just give him the keys; our family doesn't work like that. I had to make him squirm for a bit. First, I put
new tires on it, gave it a complete once-over and tune-up and I called him over to the house, telling him I had to talk with him, but not saying why. That made him a little nervous right there. He didn't know I'd gotten a new bike, so I
just had to make sure the garage door was down before he showed up. When he got there, I put on my very best, I'm-sorry-but-I-don't-know-how-to-tell-you-this face and told him to have a seat. I said that of course, being my
oldest son, a veteran of Iraq, and a good man, I had the deepest love and respect for him. But, as things have worked out, I just haven't been able to help him out as much as I'd like. I
And that's when I stopped talking for a bit. I let his imagination go to work while I kept up my very-sad-face routine. As the panic started to make its way from his gut to his face, I could see he was just about ready to
pop. That's when I said, "So, I'm giving you the Shadow," as I tossed the keys to him. He was so shocked, he completely missed the keys and they fell to the floor along with his jaw. His eyes bugged out to roughly the size of
Lake Okeechobee and the only thing he could manage to say was, "What?" I finally broke out the smile and told him that I'd gotten a new bike, and I was giving him the old
one. After that, he managed to say "Wow" and "Thanks" but that was about it for a few minutes. It took a while for it to sink in. It was perfect, and just the response I was looking for.
Since then, he's taken and passed the MSF course and we've been on a couple putts together. I'm a little nervous still, watching him on a bike; undoubtedly more than he is, but I'm getting used to seeing him on two
wheels. It's a good thing though and I'm looking forward to a lot more rides with him. Let the good times roll
said, "I'm really sorry to have to tell you this, and I've tried to think of a better way to do it, but I really don't know what else I can do…"
