—
I came close a few times. Almost gave in to the temptation. I spent a lot of my twenties in places where summer nights meant a line of Harley Davidsons outside. They’d arrive in packs, telling stories about the places they’d been, the feel of the wind on their faces. I’d smile wistfully, catch up a little bit, then go back to watching my ball game as they loudly moved on to the next place.
When I wasn’t on that barstool, or at the pool table in the back, I was working in a hospital, mostly nights, mostly in the Emergency Room. Those nights were constant reminders of why a dumbass kid with a penchant for showing off and a taste for liquor had no business being on a motorcycle.
I found myself having this conversation again recently. A Friday night with friends, standing in our kitchen and nodding politely as I was shown pictures of a new motorcycle, a Harley Davidson V-Rod that I have to admit was pretty damn pretty. I congratulated him on the new purchase, told him to be careful, and that I’d see him again soon.
I saw him the next night. The very next night he was pacing the halls of our Emergency Room, asking my wife for updates on the brother-in-law that he had just watched go down. The brother-in-law that died that day.
This isn’t a post telling you not to ride motorcycles. If you do then you love it and I’m not going to convince you otherwise, nor would I try. In many ways I envy you. Have fun, stay safe. If you are in a car, look twice. More times than not these accidents aren’t the fault of the rider.
No matter how you are traveling, sign your name on your state’s organ and tissue donor registry. It’s quick, free, and anyone can do it regardless of age or past medical history. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 79 people receive organ transplants every day. Each day another 22 people die waiting. By the time you finish reading this another person will have been added to the list. One every ten minutes.
This is the silver lining to my story. The happy ending for a few that came from the tragedy of others. Five people removed from that list, including a six-year-old cousin who received a new kidney and is currently recovering, doing well.
My profession brings me face to face with tragedy regularly, often random and unexpected. If there is opportunity for some good to come from such an event, some small measure of comfort provided to my friends and family in the helping of others, a chance to potentially save the life of somebody else, that is a list I’m going to be sure my name is on.
To register as an organ and tissue donor in your state, or to find more information, please click Here
—
A version of this post was previously published on Thirstydaddy.com and is republished here with permission from the author.
◊♦◊
Have you read the original anthology that was the catalyst for The Good Men Project? Buy here: The Good Men Project: Real Stories from the Front Lines of Modern Manhood
◊♦◊
Talk to you soon.
If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project and want to join our calls on a regular basis, please join us as a Premium Member, today.
All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.
Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.
—
Photo credit: Istockphoto.com