Motorcyclists

This was an assignment that I had in Creative Writing called The Worth of a Word.

Motorcyclists

The first motor tricycle was built in 1884 in England, and the first gasoline-engine motorcycle was built by Gottlieb Daimler in 1885. Motorcycles were widely used after 1910, especially by the armed forces in World War I. After 1950 a larger, heavier motorcycle was used mainly for touring and sport competitions. The moped, a light, low-speed motor bicycle that can also be pedaled, was developed mainly in Europe, and the sturdier Italian-made motor scooter also became popular for its economy.

Although it’s traditionally been a male-dominated past-time, more and more women are taking to the open road on a motorcycle, whether it’s a sport, cruiser or touring bike. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, there are nearly four and a half million women motorcycle riders on the road today. In fact, one of every 10 motorcycle owners is a woman.

"motorcycle rider" (especially with reference to club affiliation), 1968, Amer.Eng., from bike in its slang sense of "motorcycle" (1939).

It’s early on Saturday morning and my Army buddy Phillip is at my door asking if I’m ready to go for that ride on the back of his motorcycle that he promised me. 

“Hell yeah! Let’s make it happen baby!”, I answer as I slip into my jacket. 

But we’re not even five miles down the highway and I’m freezing and my thighs are kicking my ass! Tapping on his shoulder I yell, “Hey Phillip, you have to pull this thing over! I’m dying back here!” 

Like a gentleman, he signals and pulls over off the highway so that I can dismount and walk these cramps out of my legs. “Lord, if you’ll just get me back to my barracks, I swear I’ll never get on another motorcycle for as long as I live.”

The first motor tricycle was built in 1884 in England, and the first gasoline-engine motorcycle was built by Gottlieb Daimler in 1885. Motorcycles were widely used after 1910, especially by the armed forces in World War I. After 1950 a larger, heavier motorcycle was used mainly for touring and sport competitions. The moped, a light, low-speed motor bicycle that can also be pedaled, was developed mainly in Europe, and the sturdier Italian-made motor scooter also became popular for its economy.

I’m sitting on a stool at the Carolina Cruisers MC bar ordering a beer as I look around in amazement at how fabulous the clubhouse looks. There’s nothing but black and yellow décor throughout the place, same as their club patch colors. Lots of mirrors on the walls and ceiling too, I love that. DJ Boogie has the music thumping and sounding really nice as the room slowly begins to fill with the club members all dressed in leather and denim. They got their swag on too. I can tell already that this is going to be a meet & greet occasion to remember!

Although it’s traditionally been a male-dominated past-time, more and more women are taking to the open road on a motorcycle, whether it’s a sport, cruiser or touring bike. Women have been riding motorcycles as long as men, and the exploits of some women riders are just as daring and mind-boggling as those of their male peers. 

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, there are nearly four and a half million women motorcycle riders on the road today. In fact, one of every 10 motorcycle owners is a woman. 

“Hey kiddo, whenever you don’t feel like using your brake peddle, I want you to yell yabba-dabba-do as loud as you can.” Says Mike, my BRC instructor.“Okay, I’ll try to remember that!”, I shout back with a huge grin across my face. 

Here I am on the driving range with 9 other riders including my husband, and learning to ride a motorcycle on my own. This is proving to be one of the greatest personal satisfactions of my life! They got me riding a Honda Spirit 250 and this little bike goes so fast! Now where is that brake peddle again?

The End

"HOOPS for Awareness" World AIDS Day 2011

On December 3rd, 2011, The Power of T.E.E.N.S., Inc. (Teaching Emotional Empowerment Never Stops!) hosted their 2nd Annual "HOOPS for Awareness"--World AIDS Day event at the Carl Russell Recreation Center in Winston-Salem.


The Power of T.E.E.N.S., Inc. is a not-for-profit organization who is on a mission to help eliminate the spread of HIV & AIDS and the stigma that comes along with it. "Our loved ones should not have to deal with the shame and the hardships of living with HIV & AIDS alone. The most important thing to remember is that a person doesn't have to wait until they're infected to be a part of the movement designed to tackle this problem head on," says Rozita, Event Coordinator for the organization. "In order for things to get better, we're going to have to make a conscious decision to do some things differently," she said.

The purpose of the event was to remind each of us that HIV&AIDS is a very real health issue in our community. The theme for World AIDS Day 2011 this year was "Getting to Zero" zero number of AIDS related deaths.


POSSE was on hand to provide confidential HIV testing and the number of people who tested was outstanding! We like to believe that it was due to Louis Nelson, Executive Director of The Power of T.E.E.N.S., Inc. and Leonard Hay, member of POSSE demonstrated for the crowd just how easy and painless it is to be tested for the virus.


For the main attraction, the Winston-Salem Police Department played the Winston-Salem Fire Department in a friendly game of basketball. It was a rematch for the trophy and they played their hearts out in another very exciting game! The half-time entertainment was provided by the Salem College "Ghost Ryders Step Team" and those ladies did a beautiful performance.


The final score was 44-33 and the WSPD took the trophy back home with them after their second straight win! The keynote speaker was Thomas E Clodfelter of Greensboro, who shared with the crowd his life testimony as an HIV positive member of our community. Music was provided by DJ Boogie of the Carolina Cruisers Motorcycle Club and O.C. Wardlow was the game commentator. Despite the many events that went on throughout the weekend, this event was another huge success with nearly 200 participants!

This annual event offered free event t-shirts, designed by Bob Poole, food and drinks and the encouragement to know and protect your HIV status.


At The Power of T.E.E.N.S., Inc. we are convinced that by working together as a community, we can and we will defeat the HIV & AIDS epidemic one collaborative event at a time. If you or a loved one would like to participate in future events, please contact us today.

We would like to thank each and every one of the many donors, supporters, volunteers as well as participants in this years event. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Rozita Nelson (Special Events Coordinator) (336) 685-1138 or visit our website at http://www.thepowerofteens.org

Next year our 3rd Annual “HOOPS for Awareness" is scheduled for December 1st, 2012.

What Is Your Unfinished Business?

According to Dictionary.com the definition of family is as follows:

fam·i·ly

   [fam-uh-lee, fam-lee]  Show IPA noun,plural -lies, adjective

noun

1.

a.

a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not: the traditional family.

b.

a social unit consisting of one or more adults together with the children they care for: a single-parent family.

2.

the children of one person or one couple collectively: We want a large family.

3.

the spouse and children of one person: We're taking the family on vacation next week.

4.

any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children, uncles, aunts, and cousins: to marry into a socially prominent family.

5.

all those persons considered as descendants of a common progenitor.

This is something else that consumed quite a bit of my time during 2011, trying to define my family. My history is that my parents separated and divorced when I was just a little girl in pigtails. My little brother was raised by our father and my little sister and I were raised by our mother. There was never any consistent efforts made to keep me and my sister connected to the base of the family, because my mother was too busy doing other things. I remember that it was always so difficult for us to be able to visit with our father and our brother. This was due to hurt feelings between our parents and we little people suffered because of it.


I see also in my adult years that my family never discussed real issues. Emotions were always allowed to dominate and they still live that way even today. As a result, I never learned to communicate with the adults, nor them with me. So there is this space that continues to need to be filled with important attempts of I acknowledge.., I forgive.. and I love.., but may possibly never be simply because tomorrow is not promised to any of us.


During the times throughout the year of 2011 that I spent sitting in the company of my mother and father, whether together or separate, I have found it uncomfortable. In the end I always regretted the occasion because we typically chit chatted about things that really don't matter to me. I didn't return home after 20 plus years believing that trying to reestablish relationships with my family would be a walk in the park either. That's why I lived right down the street from my mother for nearly two years before even inviting her into my home. You would have to know her and our history to understand.


Having two young children at home I feel that it's important to have clarity about the people who come and go through our front door. They are not old enough to comprehend all of the reasons why I have reservations about the majority of our family members and there is no need to go into it here, not at this moment at least. 


However, I will tell you that I have accepted the fact that I am considered an outsider there, a black sheep. That's been the story of my life. But just the same, I am a good person and a logical person. My downfall is simply that I have little to zero time for bullshit or for people who are not good for me or to me and who pose a risk to the sanctuary that I call my home. They are like a cancer gnawing away at the skeletal remains of what could have been and I cannot risk further contamination. It's plenty enough that I carry the same chromosomes and have many of their behavioral traits. Thankfully, I also have choices.


No, family is not what I expected or hoped it to be. Over the years I have discovered that many families have internal problems of many varying degrees. Particularly where children like myself came from divorced and or remarried parents. The lost generation didn't just happen, it was created perhaps unknowingly by families who never had it together in the first place.


The conclusion that I finally arrived at is that I am simply a member of group number 5 on the Dictionary.com list, "all those persons considered as descendants of a common progenitor." That sounds rather matter of factual doesn't it? But as some say, "It is what it is." This is no pity-potty post either my friend, but rather my way of releasing some of the trash from my life so I can move on to some more of the good stuff.


All of the stories of my life have helped to create the reasons that I am so compassionate about the fight against HIV & AIDS. Communication is a crucial part of the resolution and it begins at home. Do you see how easy it would be for someone in my position to suffer alone being that this is what my so called family consists of?




Peace & Blessings to you and yours.

To you...I Apologize

It's really hard for me to believe that the whole year of 2011 has gone by since my last post here. But at the same time, a lot has happened in my life over the course of that year.

At age 44, I finally began college as a full-time student and it was what I discovered about the proper way to document that kept me away for so long. Because I was embarrassed when I realized that I had failed so terribly when it came to citing the information that I shared with my readers. Although I never claimed to be an expert, because I am not, I was wrong to expect anyone to be confident about what I wrote in this blog where it pertained to HIV & AIDS.

My intent was to return here and edit everything that needed my attention, but with the homework and other things that were going on in my life, I never carved out the time. This went on for months. To me it was like a house that needed to be cleaned but it was so out of order that I did not know where to begin. So the clock kept ticking and months continued to fly by as I strived to gain those things called college credits.

I now understand why some people have so little respect for bloggers, because I have been a part of the problem. All I can do at this point is apologize and commit to never posting incomplete blogs ever again. The sure way of carrying this task out is by giving contributors to my entries credit where credit is due. The other choice is to dismantle this site in it's entirety, because I still do not have the time it will take to go back and correct every single post.

Respectfully,
Rozita