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View Full Version : Mother's Day Catch-Up

Mellow
06-07-2006, 12:30 PM
Back in 2002, I took my Mom for her first MC ride in 36 years, she was 73 then and it was
Mother's Day. She hadn't been on a bike in 36 years and I got on my first bike at the age
of 36. It just seemed like the thing to do.

I did a quick write up at the time and Wing World published it - I had no idea they were
going to do that before spell/grammar checking it... Oh well, I'll learn next time...

Anyway, Mom, who used to worry about me all the time driving the car from TX to OK and
back when I visited, fell in love with riding - even wants us to do Alaska someday - Heck,
I'm not sure I'm up for that.

Well, I promised her we'd do a Mother's Day ride every year but she developed some knee
and back problems that required a couple surgeries and she didn't feel confident about
getting on the bike until she was healed - but, it seemed that riding was her
motivating factor - she'd always say "I'm getting better, I'll be able to get on
that bike soon".

So, this year was going to be the year she got back but it didn't work on on Mother's Day
for me so this weekend, I'm heading up to Oklahoma to try and catch up on
4 years worth of Mother's Day riding... They live in SE Oklahoma and are parallel to the
Talimena Scenic Drive, so that's a must.
Might also take her to Robber's Cave SP and Clayton Lake SP
just to give her some time in the saddle.

Both of my parents are getting older and living in the country, I think, has helped them
to keep moving and not just sit on a sofa all day, they also run a few goats on
their land which keeps them busy.

Time is never on our side - but I try to do the best I can to appreciate my parents
and help provide memories for them as well as myself.

I'll bring back some updated pics from the ride.

http://mellow.smugmug.com/photos/58244495-Ti.jpg (http://mellow.smugmug.com/photos/58244495-L.jpg) http://mellow.smugmug.com/photos/58244492-Ti.jpg (http://mellow.smugmug.com/photos/58244492-M.jpg) http://mellow.smugmug.com/photos/58244494-Ti.jpg (http://mellow.smugmug.com/photos/58244494-M.jpg)
STeveGray
06-08-2006, 12:33 PM
Joe, I think this is the greatest thing in the world and I appreciate your posting it. My mother was never interested in riding so I never tried to plant the idea in her mind. Then she got Alzheimer's and riding was out of the question. She never did ride before she died. I would like to have the memory of a ride with her but it will never happen. I get some vicarious pleasure, though, reading about your mother's rides with you so don't forget to post back after the ride to tell us how it went.
Mellow
06-08-2006, 03:08 PM
Thanks Steve, sorry about your mom but I'm sure you have many other memories of her and that's what it's all about. I'm sure she's proud of the son she raised, you seem like a good guy, she raised you well.
STeveGray
06-08-2006, 11:02 PM
Thanks Steve, sorry about your mom but I'm sure you have many other memories of her and that's what it's all about. I'm sure she's proud of the son she raised, you seem like a good guy, she raised you well.

Thanks Joe. That's one of the great things about mothers. Mothers are wonderful about making you feel they're proud of you no matter what. In college I needed some extra units one semester so I signed up for a ceramics class. When somebody produced some piece of junk the professor would always suggest they take it home to mother. She'd gush over it no matter what it looked like!
Mellow
06-09-2006, 07:19 AM
Thanks Joe. That's one of the great things about mothers. Mothers are wonderful about making you feel they're proud of you no matter what. In college I needed some extra units one semester so I signed up for a ceramics class. When somebody produced some piece of junk the professor would always suggest they take it home to mother. She'd gush over it no matter what it looked like!

That's funny, my Mom to this day, still has a hex-shaped 'thing' I made in high school and keep some jewelry in it. Ugliest thing you ever saw..
Mellow
06-11-2006, 02:02 PM
We decided to do about 250 miles all around SE Oklahoma, we left just before 7am while
it wasn't too hot.

We took hwy 259 and toured all around Broken Bow lake then headed westward towards
Clayton Lake (hwy 144).

Prior to Clayton Lake, we hit a road that I thought was only going to be 1 mile of
dirt and ended up being 7 miles - at the end of the road there was 8 ATVs getting
ready to go down it as I guess it's a favored road for them. LOL

We stopped at the pharmacist in Clayton, OK to show off - they saw a copy of the
article from Wing World and had a huge smiles watching Mom and I take off down
the road.

From there we headed north to Wilburton then east to Red Oak - there's a great
little road (82) that leads back to Talihina, OK another 10 miles and we're back
home near Whitesboro, OK.

We ended up doing about 220 miles and Mom was okay with that even though she
didn't want to stop - I convinced her it was already in the upper 90's and
we probably shouldn't push it too much as it would hit 102 later. She
told me next time she wants to go to Tenkiller Lake.

She had a great time and wanted me to tell everyone Hi!
http://mellow.smugmug.com/photos/74744173-M.jpg
mongo
06-12-2006, 10:08 AM
You are a lucky man Joe. We now know where you got your old avatar!
Mark
06-12-2006, 11:31 AM
You are a lucky man Joe. We now know where you got your old avatar!

I thought the same thing Mongo... but 'Mom' sure looks a lot better than Joe!!!
;)
Mellow
06-12-2006, 12:43 PM
I'll let her know... LOL, she might just have some homemade tamalies for you next time you are in that part of OK.
Mark
06-12-2006, 01:48 PM
I'll let her know... LOL, she might just have some homemade tamalies for you next time you are in that part of OK.

I'll be sure to schedule a ride with you though OK then!!!

Mark
Mellow
06-12-2006, 01:53 PM
I'll be sure to schedule a ride with you though OK then!!!

Mark

Now that I think of it... I could have here make a batch to pic up between WeSTOC and NatSTOC - it will be just about on the way... small detour...
STeveGray
06-12-2006, 02:22 PM
LOL!! What a great picture!! That's so neat, Joe. Thanks for posting the ride report.
Mark
06-12-2006, 04:16 PM
Now that I think of it... I could have here make a batch to pic up between WeSTOC and NatSTOC - it will be just about on the way... small detour...

Detour? I don't have a route picked out so what's a Detour? :-)

(and don't tell anybody else!!!! I love tamalies!);)

Mark
BJFazio
06-12-2006, 05:53 PM
Now that is one heck of a story. Please tell her we said "hi" back. Can't wait to see pictures of you two heading up the Alaskan highway. :)
Doobage
06-20-2006, 03:49 PM
Awesome. Most excellent pic. I love the idea that she has such an open mind to try different things and most of all put trust in you to keep her safe. Very cool Mom.

She might need to be careful offering tamalies, I could easily see an Okla-Joe-Ma-Stoc happening. Camping on Ma-Joe's lawn. Woot!
Mellow
06-21-2006, 07:40 AM
Awesome. Most excellent pic. I love the idea that she has such an open mind to try different things and most of all put trust in you to keep her safe. Very cool Mom.

She might need to be careful offering tamalies, I could easily see an Okla-Joe-Ma-Stoc happening. Camping on Ma-Joe's lawn. Woot!

You know what... she'd love that... not sure you'd want to camp out at their place... pretty rocky ground and what isn't rock has goats and goat droppings on it.. LOL

But, I'll mention it to her... There is a spot where dad used to stack all the hay, it might be a good camping spot...
Doobage
06-21-2006, 02:47 PM
That'd be awesome! OklaJoeMa here I come, right back where we started from.

I like rocks.
Are they cool looking rocks?
We just have mud down here.
Mellow
06-21-2006, 03:45 PM
That'd be awesome! OklaJoeMa here I come, right back where we started from.

I like rocks.
Are they cool looking rocks?
We just have mud down here.

They are nice rocks... people buy them for pools in the big city.. LOL... I'm sure they'd even let you take some home.