My riding buddy and great friend, a brother, Reg, was dealt an unfair hand.
He just turned 64 and retired from the hospital he worked at. He had been riding a ratty old '73 Triumph Tiger, that was actually faster off the line than any of my bikes. To reward himself for all his hard work, he bought a very low milage 2014 Street Glide. He worshiped that bike! We only got to ride together with it a dozen or so rides, because he wanted to fulfill another dream.. to see the country. Him and a buddy Dave started a cross country trip in a diesel truck and travel trailer in July, leaving his beloved Ruby (that's what he named the new bike) in Florida. He had planned to be gone for 4 months. I was bummed that he would be gone so long, but also happy for him.
After 2 1/2 months they were in Wyoming. Dave had notice Reg was not right. He had trouble walking and keeping his balance. Dave made Reg go see a doctor. The bottom line was that Reg flew back to Florida and went to a specialist. Tumors in his brain, on his spine that turned out to be cancer. Ended up back in the hospital he retired from. Doctors gave him months to live.
His wife, Jennifer, died from cancer about seven years ago, so Reg has accepted his fate and knows what he is up against. He is in amazingly good spirits and has shown no pity for himself. He is quite a man! What's so ironic, is that Reg always took care of himself, getting check ups and eating right. He even made sure I took care of myself and was always concerned with my well being.
It's only been five days since all this has unfolded and I can't get it off my mind. It seems unbelievable and unreal.
To summarize: Enjoy life while you can. You never know what the next day will bring.