Uncle John gave me the desire to get one someday, but Melissa was the driving force to get it now. We had known each other for a few years and had been dating awhile when the �M� and �F� words came up, �Marriage� and �Future�. Well� Before we did that we had differing views on a couple important topics, including motorcycles. I told her I wanted a Harley someday. She didn�t think so. End of discussion. Excuse me? I knew it was one of those buttons I could push. So for the next few months I�d point out bikes on the road and suggest we stop at the local dealer to see which of the bikes she�d like riding on the back of. Finally one day she said I could get a bike, which she�d never be on the back of, after she got her three kids out of me and I had plenty of life insurance. Excuse me, again. Kids? Three? Sounded like we had much more than just the bike to talk about. Months later other topics became irreconcilable and we called it quits. I thought, �Who the hell was she to tell me I couldn�t get a Harley?�
So I got on the Harley dealers waiting list, took the Pennsylvania Riders Safety Course, bought an old used bike to get some seat time while waiting for my bike, and took a trip to nearby York, PA, to see how it happened.
Two years after Melissa and I split I sent her a picture of my new pride and joy and simply wrote �Thank you� on the back. If it weren�t for her I wouldn�t be so happy now. As I tell friends, �It was my Harley or my girlfriend, I�ll miss her.�