A Sad Lack of Respect

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  Posted by Stormy1963 April 12, 2013 - Filed in Personal Journal - 975 views
  

  Today was a bittersweet day. Oh the sun was shining bright and I put in about a three hour ride, but the reason for the ride made it hard as I took that literal, last ride with a friend. I was far from alone on this journey as he had many brothers and sisters from many walks of life.  I was honored to ride "tail gunner" so to speak behind a very long line of bikes, including "Last Ride Motorcycle Hearse" which hauled James on that final ride. He was a fine man, good friend to many, loving husband to his wife of 35 years and an amazing father and grandfather.  His legacy will live on in his children and grandchildren. He had spent his last living day, doing just that........living. He and two friends had rode all day to Eureka Springs, AR and back. Sadly his heart gave out on him late last Sunday night.  At only 55, it was much too soon.  It was an honor to ride with the Patriot Guard Riders that James so loved and respected. My first PGR ride and service, but will not be my last.

  Now the sad lack of respect came in during the ride from the church to the cemetery. I was shocked, then saddened, then just plain ole pissed off at the number of cars and trucks that not only didn't pull over to the edge of the road and stop for the procession to pass by, but seemed to actually speed up and hug the center line! Took everything in me to keep reminding myself not to express my disdain with a high held one finger salute!!  I don't know if it's my age (50), my being born and raised in the South (originally from Dallas TX area) or just thanks to my parents instilling good manners and respect. I was brought up with respect, not just for the dead but for the family and friends of same.  It was nearly a fifty mile route to the cemetery. We traveled on little back country roads, and high traffic highways, neither seemed to make any difference!  I noticed the age of the drivers of the cages seemed to make no difference either.   We met drivers of all ages and few made the effort to pull over and stop. While I restrained that middle finger gesture to those that didn't, I did give a hearty thumbs up and wave to the few that pulled over and stopped. 

  Thankfully I raised my own children as I was raised.