To my friend

To my Dear friend, Jan,

Where do I begin? You came to this group called the motor maids.  Quietly listening, watching, learning, absorbing......you became a member.  I didn't know you.  It took some time before we actually engaged in any real conversation.  Could we be any more opposite.  I had no idea the extent of our friendship to come.  The depth of love we would share.  I watched your riding ability.  I was impressed.  I watched as you one by one tested every motorcycle.....and then added them to your collection.  I met you on your golden 2014 street glide.  I learned of your love for spider man.........then watched you purchase your spider man bike......not certain of the brand, only that it was covered in webs and mr. Spidey himself.  After a short time came the goldwing.  I teased as it was as big and yellow as a school bus.  Did it make beeping sounds when you backed up.  You handled it quite well.  You found your way to every Suzy Q's bike night.  You are already becoming an amazing and supportive friend.......but still i had no idea where this friendship would take us.  Somehow life threw us together to possibly travel over 6000 miles to the 2016 motor maid convention in New Mexico.  Yes, it happened.  I thought the trip was all about me.  It was not about me.  It was about you.  "Leap of faith" was a trip for you my friend, my love, my sister.  Our trip brought us closer than most would ever imagine......it was more than i would have ever imagined.  Michelle, myself and you.......we shared love.  We shared God.  We shared laughs and tears.  We created an unbreakable bond.  Our trip allowed us the time to grow, learn about each other, push ourselves beyond our fears, and ride like there is no tomorrow.  You came up with the most fitting name for this trip and we all loved it!  May i just pause for one moment to tell you again, I love you.  Because of you, I learned the road better.  My lifetime of riding was helpful but the lessons you taught me will be exercised every time i fill that tourpack and hit the road.  You have become one of the heros in my life. Your stamina, patience, love of life, determination, skill, faith, knowledge, and everything about you will forever resonate in my life and in my heart.  Jan, you honored me with your private personal journal.  When it was handed to me, i froze with confusion.  Why me? You picked me.  I was so so moved Jan.  you can't imagine the way you touched my heart.  I couldn't open that book fast enough to read your private moments about our long journey to New Mexico and to be able to hold and read the book I watched you write in every single day.  It was your Spider man journal.  I rubbed your book, held it close to my heart, and opened the pages to find the date.  Your love of people, your love of the road, life and motorcycling, your fears, your personal experiences.........they were all in my hands.  You blessed me with your words.  thank you, Jan.  You brought me back to each and every moment of our trip.  You made me recall small moments that I would have otherwise forgotten.  That horrible hill leading up to the Rockcliffe mansion.......oh yes, we made it up.......treacherous, but we did it on those massive bikes........only to learn that there is level ground on the opposite side of the house to enter safely.  Thank you for that laugh.  Our visit to the largest ball of twine, Cawker City, Kansas.  You left your mark there as well my friend.  Your piece of twine will forever be a part wrapped around that ball the way your friendship and love has wrapped around our group.  You brought me to each bike night you attended and all the others that were present.  You brought me to other rides.  Your joy and your spirit is written on the pages.  I have photos of all of those experiences your wrote about.  Each short story from your finger tips brings my mind to the exact moment.  It was an epic adventure, my friend.  I am so glad I was able to share that time with you.  Getting to know you was a gift.  At times i find myself angry and somewhat paralyzed until I think about all the blessings i received since the day we met.  You came into my life so softly, and quietly. I will be forever grateful for all of our moments, time, love, laughs, silliness, and friendship.  One of a kind, Jan......our friendship is one of a kind.  When your day of complete peace comes, may that  journey to the light with God be as beautiful and loving as your soul.  You will be sadly missed and always remembered with great respect and love.  My freind, my sister.........thank you.  The piece of me i gave to you.......