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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The Turbulece of Change & The Calm Before the Storm

I've just gotten home from a trip to Kansas City and Hannibal Mo. Normally the optimum choice for a long road trip like this would be to ride the longest leg or all the way to the destination on the first day while fresh, and break up the ride home into two days. But, due to weather, this ride was the exact opposite. It was a long 630 miles home, to say the least. Lots of time in the saddle to think about this blog post. But, actually, the title of the blog hit me in the first 50 miles, and the rest of it just fell into place as the trip unfolded.

While on the wide open highway I encountered so many Semi trailers, and experienced the turbulence associated with riding near them. I'd brace myself in anticipation of the wind that would throw me around, hold on tight and ride the storm until I got to clear air again. But I had to ride it out over and over again if I wanted to get where I was going. What a metaphor for life! Blissfully cruising along in a comfort zone, then something comes along to shake things up, and you have to hold on tight until it's over.

Change happens to everyone. Change always happens. There's change everywhere you look if you pay attention. Day changes to night, children change to adults, friendships come and go, businesses thrive and fail, births and deaths, even the earth is ever changing.

My first realizations of change on this road trip came when I was checking out the Rockcliffe Mansion. Built between 1898 and 1900, the owners paid 100 carpenters $1 a day plus meals for 2 years. The house was built on the hill to overlook the Mississippi River. Now, from the front porch the view is obstructed by many buildings constructed over the years. You can't really see the river at all. Secondly, while riding the riverboat touring the river and hearing stories and facts, I found myself thinking about how the banks of this river must have changed over the past 100 years, and how many buildings have been flooded away, and how they must have had to learn the hard way what was a safe distance to build. Mark Twain (Samuel Clements) grew up in Hannibal, Mo. where he, like most other boys dreamed of becoming a riverboat pilot. He lived his dream and traveled up & down the river for 4 years, 2 as an apprentice, and 2 as a pilot. During the war, Riverboats were being shot at, and not liking that experience, he quit. Eventually he would become famous for writing The Adventures of Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Fin. A change for the better.

On the obligatory trip to the Harley Dealer after crossing the Kansas border, more change was encountered. The dealership had recently been purchased by an owner from Arizona. Racks of clothes that bear the name of the old dealer on clearance, I loved it! Change for the better, and good deals!

Next up, Harley Davidson's Powertrain Operations Facility tour. First off, you watch a movie on the history of Harley Davidson. In 1969 Harley Davidson merged with AMF, and then in 1981 13 executives bought the company back. However, by 1987 the company was only hours away from bankruptcy, and in 1988 Harley Davidson was the most purchased motorcycle, with over 1000 dealerships. Change from one extreme to the other. Also changing, Harley comes up with the liquid cooled Revolution engine. There are many naysayers out there that frown upon the V-rod, but the changes allow it to have the most horsepower. At first, I didn't care for the new V-rods, the ugly silver & how tall they were...but then they came out with the black beauty Night Rod Special, and I changed my mind!

So, the common thread here is things can be quiet for a long time, and make sure you enjoy it. Change will happen, there is no avoiding it. Most of the time, though, eventually the changes lead to something better. And just like an overflowing river, or a failing company or personal hardship, if you hold on tight and ride the storm, you should come out the other side better for it.

In many ways, right now in my life, this seems like the calm before the storm. I'm sitting idle, listening and watching for signs of what to do next. That just might lead to a lot of change, hopefully for the better. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it will happen without turbulence. I might have to hold on tight for a while in order to get to where I really want to be, but it will be for the better.


p.s.
If you're interested in the dreaded vacation photos of my ride to Kansas, Missouri & Illinois, the pictures can be found here :
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2052136&id=1271155693


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