Monday, March 26, 2007

Love On Two Wheels

Sunday was a beautiful day in the Mile High City. All along the Front Range (the I-25 corridor if you’re not from Colorado), really.

Mother nature – or a particular wobble in the Earth’s spin, if you’re not given to the supernatural personification of weather patterns – gave us super comfortable temps with scattered gorgeousness. It was a great day for a ride on the motorcycle; or a fundraiser.

Or maybe both.

As some of you may recall, I belong to motorcycle club. As with any gathering of like-minded people, we enjoy each others’ company and strive to have fun.

And while the weather was quite fair this weekend, these are more than just fair-weather friends.


This past Sunday was the first of two fundraisers put on by the members of the club, with support from local establishments, to help us cover the additional costs of Doss’s time in the NICU.

When they first told me they were planning a fundraiser for Doss, I told them it wasn't necessary. Of course it's not necessary, they said, but we want to.

Like so many others, they simply wanted a positive way to express their grief.

The first fundraiser was a spaghetti dinner buffet, with all the food donated by the hosting bar and the proceeds going to Doss & Jorja’s medical bills. When we arrived at the fundraiser, we were met with hail and hearty hand shakes, hugs, and so much love, there was hardly room for us all.

The next event will be in the middle of April at another bar and will feature an auction of goods and services donated by caring and generous people, companies, and club members.

The members of the club are more than just friends; they are truly my brothers. The love and support they have shown to my family has touched me and reminds again how many lives Doss touched in just 11 days.

While I am saddened at the loss of my son, the outpouring of love and support that we have received from many unexpected sources has helped to buoy our spirits in a time that could be black with grief.

Thanks again to my family, my brothers, my friends and my readers; I owe you all a debt of gratitude that I can never repay, but will endeavor to return tenfold as well as pay forward.

[ed. note: P.Pie, Jorja, & I drove the car to the event; I haven’t figured out how to hook a car seat to the motorcycle. Yet.]