Mortality

[TarpleyG]

Just got an e-mail that a former co-worker died on Saturday night in a motorcycle accident.  I worked with him and his wife for a few years before they left for other things.  I wasn't necessarily friends with either but it really shook me up to get that e-mail this morning--reminds me how fragile life can be.  This guy was a model dad to two boys and coached football and tee-ball in his spare time.  He was young and had already beat cancer a few years back.  I cannot help but wonder what his wife and boys are going through right now.  Stuff like this makes me question whether I take advantage of what I have.  I love my wife more than I can express and I know that sometimes it bothers her that I cannot express it in terms she can appreciate.  We haven't had any kids yet but they are on the horizon.  Hope I don't have to leave them like this.  No kid should have to outlive his parents.

Godspeed Tom G.

Greg

[The Rabbi]

That's sad, of course.

Motorcycles look like lots of fun.  Then I remember I am a married guy with two young children, one of whom I homeschool.  The upside of motorcycles is the fun in riding them.  The downside is death or permanant vegetative state.  I made my choice.

[Stand_watie]

Motorcycles are lots of fun.  The death and permanent vegetative state is by far more likely to be caused by a collision with another motorist than with hitting the ground or a fixed object. My point being that if they look fun enough to you to be worth risking more moderate injuries (like broken ankles and legs) that there is a middle course that adventurous, yet prudent men can take, IE off road motorcycling.

[Guest]

A good friend of mine lost a friend of hers in a motorcycle accident recently. Her and her husband were riding two up when they got hit. She died at the scene and last i heard he was in the ICU and might not be walking anytime soon.

I love riding and I still ride nearly every day. I am well aware that its a bad choice, but its mine to make. I have to say that if i had a family to support I might approach it differently though. If you have a family to support you *need* to have a quality death/dismemeberment policy, other than that its "buyer beware".

On the plus side, riding a bike gives you ample occasion to reflect on your own mortality. Its not even remotely unusual for me to think: "i might just die in the next 5 seconds" or "huh, I almost bought the farm there" while riding. It gives one a certain enjoyment in life.