Sooner Or Later, I May Get It Right...

Thanks to all who advised, maybe this is the right way for a "newbie"...;0)

Good day to all!
It all started when I was 14 years old, riding a bicycle that had a motor, down a dusty dirt road at sunrise. I still remember the moment as what Heaven must be like. I've been chasing that ever since.

But I digress. I'm 71 years old, a Vietnam veteran, have lived in 14 states, have most likely made every mistake a man can make, and can thankfully say there is such a thing as "redemption". As a Western Nebraska native, in the 1960's, EVERYone had to have a motorcycle to race on our dirt oval in our one-acre back yard. My beast was an 80cc Yamaha that I dearly loved, but traded straight across for a '49 Chevy that had a working heater during a spectacularly cold Nebraska winter.

When I became of age, I joined the military. I was an artist and loved my job for 8 1/2 years, the last two of which were with the USAF Aerial Demonstration Team, "The Thunderbirds". What a fantastic tour that was!

I've always loved old cars and motorcycles. I recently acquired a 2013 Triumph Speedmaster, who has a beautiful profile. I have 4 brothers who simultaneously asked me, "Why the hell do you want another motorcycle?!"
My answer was quite simple; "Life and my self-sabotaging ways have tried to beat the hell outta me. I'm an alcoholic (34 years sobriety, by the way), have been married and divorced 3 times, have had to start over with nothing but my tools more times than I can count. I'm 71 and can feel myself slowing down, so I'm going to fight it until I can't do it any longer. My happiest of times was on that motorbike on that one dirt road during that one sunrise. That's why."

My psychology professor said I may be guilty of "premature disclosure", where, on a first date with a woman, you say "I'm an alcoholic who's been diagnosed with severe PTSD and have been married three times, but only had a pistol to my head one time. Shall we order?"
What the hell does he know??

Anyway, so happy to be here!!

 

Thank you!
Yes, I've had an interesting life (like the time I had a contract on me in Bangkok, Thailand). But...I like who I am today, so in retrospect, I'd do it all again.
One of my favorite poetry lines is from Dylan Thomas, "Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
For so many years I had no opinions and was closed off like a suitcase. After years of therapy, I've found my Voice and have opinions on most everything, to the point of being annoying to most of my family members.
My job is as a County Veterans Service Officer, an advocate for veterans when they deal with the bureaucratic nightmare of the Veterans Administration. I love my job.

On to the Speedmaster! Since I can't leave well enough alone, I'm gonna make it "mine". Since I've painted and pin-striped many tanks and fenders, I'm going to do a patriotic theme for the tank. I've got a beautiful full buffalo skin to re-do the seat and make some nice saddlebags. I'm having a hard time with the forward controls as well. Triumph makes a mid-control kit for the later models, but none for the 2013. There's gotta be a way to engineer that...

 

Thanks to all for a warm welcome!!