Humanity Lives On With Bikers!
Posted on | December 23, 1999 |
written by Cyber5
By sheer coincidence I was witness to a really touching event the other day!
The day had started with a quick run to the local grocery store, and ended with an enlightened and happier heart. I was on my way back from the grocery store trip, when I was diverted by local police. They had set up a traffic-direction cop that was waving traffic down a detour route. I assumed it was an accident, as there were flares and blinking lights.
While I sat at the stoplight waiting for my turn to be detoured, it occured to me that there were a bunch of motorcyclists turning in the direction I wanted to go, and where I was being deterred from going. The “bunch” turned into “a whole bunch” and then it was my turn to detour. While cruising at an unusually slow pace of 23MPH on a 40MPH street, I noticed that ALL of the oncoming traffic was motorcycles and cycle-like vehicles!
About a mile down the road, I needed to turn left. This was hindered by the fact that there were at least 12 others in front of me that were attempting the same thing. Everything was a standstill. A quick head-pop out the window showed me that another cop was prohibiting all left turns and that he was waving on a never-ending stream of motorcycles. My foot stayed on the brake for a fw minutes, and that turned into me putting the car into park and opening my door. This stream of cycles never-ended, so I started actively watching.
Each and every cycle had a bear or other stuffed animal strapped to it in some fashion! Some bears on the front, under the headlight. Others above the headlight, on the “chopper-style” handlebars. Even more were adorning the back rails of cycles. I saw Harleys, and Kawasakis, superbikes and long-road cruisers. Custom bikes and experimental bikes went past. I even saw a single moped! All had animals (stuffed) in tow, or in the arms of the back-seat passengers who were spending their time grinning and waving.
This continued for 3 minutes, then 5…8…12…30.
Finally it dawned on me that this was the “toy run” I had heard about on the news days before. The person behind me asked what was going on, and I related to him what I had overheard on the news days before. He smiled and lit a cigarette. We sat there watching motorcycles drive by with toys for tots (I’m not sure it was a Toys For Tots drive - so don’t confuse my observation with the actual Toys For Tots drive that is popular this time of year).
I’m sure I spent close to an hour sitting at that light, car door open and waving to the cyclists…not worrying about the things I had to do. This parade definitely took precedence over my tasks, even though I was bringing home diapers for our own disabled son.
I gleefully sat thru every cycle that passed by, as did at least 2 miles of cars behind me, and waved them on! Had we all known about it, we would have had lunches packed and flags to wave, I’m sure! So, we all sat there - outside of our cars, on the median - joyfully waving on our newfound passion (it really touched everyone’s heart, I’m sure), while they waved back and honked.
I saw some bikes that were probably worth $100, and some that were probably worth $100,00 - no joke! Each and every rider and bike though - evoked an emotional response that was priceless. They carried Barney’s and paddington’s, and “Fluffy White Xmas Bears”, Tiggers and Poohs…the list was endless.
I don’t know how many bikers there were, but I estimate that I sat thru 17,000 of them - right up until the the 12 police cars behind them signalled the end of the parade - and I arrived late!
I don’t know where they were from, or where they were destined for…but I can tell you this - on their journey to wherever, they touched hundreds of people and arrived in Heaven at least a thousand times.
I wish those bikers who drove through Melbourne, Florida a wonderful holiday - and a fantastic life. Whether they were wearing santa suits, elf hats, or studded leather - their heart was clearly displayed upon their sleeves that day!
There will be a lot of kids that have a Merry Christmas around here because of some caring bikers. So please - next time you see some scraggly looking biker pulling up at the light next to you, just think that come Xmas time, he might be doing more for the spirit of the holiday then you can even imagine, and cut him/her some slack. Also, pay attention to looking out for motorcycles and bicyclists all-year ’round, because one mistake from a driver might cost a life or two - and, it might also prevent a toy from being delivered to a needy kid at the holidays!
Happy Holidays to Everyone!
Be an angel and help some needy kids next year - your heart will benefit from it.
Cyber5
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