A few years back we were riding in Utah and stopped at 15 and 20 for a break. Saw an older gentleman on a Honda 750 pulled over and went to talk to him, he was a dead ringer for Anthony Hopkins. Turns out he was riding back from Ca. to his home in WY. He was 73 and had terminal cancer. We invited him for lunch in Panguich and he came, had an iced tea, and asked all 4 of us questions about our lives. He said he told his wife that he bought and sold motorcycles but the truth was he just bought, tinkered with and rode them. Said he had 57 cycles at the time. He told grand stories of his life and travels somewhat reminiscent of the movie "the Big Fish". Our friends thought he was just a great storyteller and exaggerated quite a bit. I talked to him on the phone every few months and although he couldn't remember all our names he recalled the "Italian on the VTX", the girl from Pocahontas IL. (he had been there in the '60's and had met her parents) , me with the red CVO and Melanie with the "black street glide". He often rode alone to AZ. for cancer treatments but whenever I talked to him there he was busy entertaining the other patients "because they needed some laughter in their lives.
Last I called two years ago, his daughter from Australia answered and said he had passed. We talked for a bit and I told her of his many grand stories he had shared with us. She said "well, most all are true and factual". I knew it all along.
I just hope that when I'm older and ailing I can continue on as I always have without a complaint as he did.
I miss James Lord, he will always be one of my hero's.