THE MOTORCYCLE
In my blog of December 2019, I introduced you (readers) to my neighbor, Marsh. That blog was about how we met. It has been ten years since Marsh passed, and so in this blog, I tell you how we said goodbye.
"Do you enjoy this?" asked Anna to Marsh, as she rode on the back of his motorcycle. They were dating then, and Marsh wanted to share his passion for motorcycles with the love of his life. Clearly, Anna did not enjoy the ride. So, Marsh sold his motorcycle and settled into married life. However, he always thought about motorcycles, longingly watching as the neighbors rode by on theirs. He especially took notice when our neighbor, Barry, rode by on his Harley.
Anna always told Marsh, "When I die, you can buy your toys!" So when Anna did pass in 2004, the first toy Marsh bought was a silver Dodge Dakota 4-door truck. It was gorgeous! The truck was roomy enough for Marsh's beloved Doberman, Edie, to ride along on his many jaunts.
On the other hand, it was the next toy that made Marsh's passion shine again. Keep in mind, Marsh was now eighty-one years old. He came home with a motorcycle. This was not just any motorcycle, but a four cylinder Honda Intruder. He had wanted one for the longest time. I joked to him that he was my neighbor, "The Hell's Angel!" Without missing a beat, he quipped, "I rode with them a couple of times. They like trouble." He could pull nuggets from his past that left you with a smirk on your face.
The Honda Intruder prove to be challenging for Marsh. His feet didn't even touch the ground when he straddled the bike. One day, while riding up the hill to our street, Marsh gave the bike too much throttle and became airborne. Anyone, unintentionally, going airborne on a motorcycle is scary! However, for an octogenarian, who had not ridden in decades, I get shivers.
It took some convincing from folks, including Jerry- a motorcycle man in his youth, for Marsh to get rid of that demon. However, he did relent to selling it. Yet, he was determined to have a motorcycle. A few days later, he came home with a Suzuki Intruder 750. This was a better fit for Marsh, because it had a water cooled engine and a shaft drive. These features would provide reliability and a more comfortable ride. Most importantly, his feet touched the ground when he straddled the bike.
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| Picture of a Suzuki Intruder 750-similar to the one Marsh bought |
First thing Marsh bought, for his new bike, were saddlebags. His three main haunts were the grocery store, liquor store for his favorite rye whiskey, and the hardware store. Edie would have to stay home now when Marsh headed out on his bike. It was his next purchase that made us grin. He had pipes added to his motorcycle to make it sound like a Harley.
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| First thing Marsh bought after he purchased his motorcycle were saddlebags. Next came the pipes that would make his Suzuki sound like a Harley! |
With his two biggest wants complete, Marsh was a happy man. He rode his motorcycle everywhere. On the other hand, being a motorcycle enthusiast is nothing unless you can share it with someone. Meanwhile, Jerry was watching longingly from the front porch, telling me he was looking out for Marsh's safety. Marsh took notice, and invited Jerry to take the motorcycle for a ride. Still having his motorcycle license, Jerry said yes immediately. Thus, the "playdates" began!
To start, Marsh would go off on the motorcycle, and then it would be Jerry's turn. Marsh asked Jerry to take it for longer and faster rides than he could do. Jerry was more than happy to obliged. Many afternoons were wiled away on that bike. I did not participate. Guess, I was more like Anna. However, Jerry did not own a motorcycle when we met. As a side note, Marsh thought I was a fast driver and figured I would ride fast on the motorcycle. He remarked to Jerry that he thought I had a lead foot. One time while taking him to urgent care, he told me I did not need to hurry that he would be fine. I told him I always drive like this. He loudly sighed. For the record I was going the speed limit. I think he was use to his late wife's driving. She was very timid behind the wheel, usually going about 15-20 miles per hour.
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| Edie the Doberman. |
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| Marsh and our eldest millennial. |
One afternoon, I received a phone call from Marsh. He wanted to talk. Unfortunately, at the time, I had company, and was getting our youngest ready to send off to college. I promised him I would call him later that night. When I called, Marsh answered on the first ring. His voice was shaky as he told me he was diagnosed with cancer. At that moment, he was not an eighty-nine year old fun-loving man, but an eighty-nine year old scared man. I immediately hung up the phone and showed up at his front door. What he needed now was our support and love.
The Fall of 2012 proved to be a difficult one. Marsh was told that there was little more that could be done. His cancer was too far along. The motorcycle was silent. Marsh never wanted to be a bother, and it was difficult for him to ask or accept help. We set up a security check for him that would not invade his privacy. We asked him to open his front window drapes if he was alright. If the drapes were closed, either Jerry or I would be over to check on him. Reluctantly, he said yes. It was during this time, Marsh got his affairs in order and made plans for his next move.
When his health had deteriorated in mid-October, Marsh moved to an assisted living facility. He took very little with him-change of clothes and undergarments, pajamas, VHS player, and cassettes with all the seasons of his favorite TV Shows-Seinfeld and Friends. He also brought along his favorite movie, The Bridge Over River Kwai. Side note; as a World War II Army Veteran, he watched it all the time. With so few items, Marsh forgot his favorite libation, Rye Whiskey. We bought him a bottle and took it to him. He told us he had everything he needed. It is amazing, how little we really need when we are forced to make choices.
We visited him every other day. He told us we didn't have to come. We came anyways! As his health worsened, the VHS player was still and the whiskey was three-quarters full. By now, he was in and out of consciousness. It was during one of those moments of consciousness that Marsh asked Jerry to ride the motorcycle over to the assisted living facility so he could hear it one last time. "Oh and one other thing," he asked. "Could you ride the motorcycle by Barry's house(the neighbor with the Harley) and really rev it up as you go by!"
It was Wednesday, November 7th, when the Jerry rode the motorcycle, first by Barry's house, really revving it up as he went by. Then, it was onto the assisted living. Jerry rode the bike right up to the window of Marsh's room. He put the clutch in, open the throttle, and let that baby ROAR. Although his eyes were closed, the nurses told us Marsh had the biggest smile on his face. Marsh died two days later on November 9th.
There was one other request Marsh had. Could we put the American Flag up (one last time) on his flag pole on November 11th? Being a Navy man himself, Jerry was honored to do so. After the Flag was raised, Jerry saluted, just as Marsh had always done.
Marsh was buried in his best suit with the ashes of Edie the Doberman, and a picture of Anna. The Dodge Dakota truck is now owned by a young woman who drives it with her dog, Kodiak by her side! The Suzuki Intruder 750 was given to Jerry, who rode it for a long time until he could not. Thus, the motorcycle is silent for now.
Marsh would be annoyed with me for writing this. "You are making a big deal about me," he would probably say. Even though he would be annoyed, I would do it anyways. This is usually where I leave you in the blog with a witty quote. However, not for this one. Instead, I raise a glass of Rye Whiskey and say, "Love your neighbor!"
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| To Marsh |
Until Next Time,
Minnie & The Hubster
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