Mid-Life Crises

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” — Helen Keller

Most humans follow the same basic route:
Infancy → Adolescence → Adulthood → Old Age.
A tidy little map, if you ignore the potholes.

But the stretch between adulthood and old age?
That’s where the wheels come off — sometimes literally.
Western society calls it a mid‑life crisis.
Mine showed up with a full tank of gas and only two wheels.

I’d taken a break from motorcycle touring to help my wife survive the teenage years — a period best described as “emotional CrossFit.” With great sincerity, I eventually convinced all three children that it was God’s plan for them to leave home before their 30th birthday.

Once the house quieted down, I rolled in with a 2014 Valkyrie.
My wife looked at me and said, “I can’t believe you bought that without telling me.”
Well, I’m telling you now, love.

When she passed away in 2021, my mid‑life crisis took a sharp left into the What Just Happened chapter of life. Touring stopped being a hobby and became a lifeline — a way to keep moving when everything else stood still.

So on the left, you’ll find the timeline — the road that shaped me.
On the right, you’ll find the tours — the roads that saved me.
And somewhere between the two is the man who kept riding.

With the help of Mr. Honda, this is my story.