Our Advertisers are the BEST, and Faithful as well. Here are a few of them and what they offer there customers!
Volusia County Powder Coating In Edgewater. Jerry & Lisa Barbaugh are some hard working people that’s going GREAT work. From MC frames, to fenders & tanks, plus car wheels, etc. They do it right. Please check their ad out here in CHOPS!
Wind Walkers Leather & More in Oak Hill. If you’ve never been in this business, you will be surprised at the GREAT work they do with leather, and the building is over run with many articles of clothing & accessories that every rider needs to take a look at. Ahhhh, love the smell of new leather. Look them up here!
Street Thunder in Mims! A complete motorcycle shop that doe it all. Oil & tire changes to total engine rebuilds, and it’s done correctly the first time around. Big Paul, the owner, has GREAT knowledge of the Harley Davidsons. Their store & parts dept., is also well stocked!
The Fox Head Lounge in Osteen, home of beautiful bar maids & home to their famous Spam Sammiches, oh yea GOOD!!! Ice cold beer, alcohol, pool tables & some GREAT music all through the week
The Pirates Pub in Paisley. Cold beer, alcohol, pool pizzas and just a GREAT place to ride to and hang out under the trees or canopy. Don’t for get their “Too Broke For Sturgis’ Party on Aug. 3rd all day
OB’s Lounge in Deland. One of the BEST Bike Nights anywhere around!!! Cold beer, GREAT food, alcohol, pool & the best bands around. Food specials all during the week. $6 Phillies on Friday. $7 Chicken Wings! Sweet Tea & more!
Sorry Charlies in Samsula! Probably the MOST rocking place in the country at this time. Charlie & Aimee have brought this place way beyond what anyone ever expected. It’s always a good time at Charlies, stop in for the BEST food & cold beer, while you check out the very beautiful and friendly barmaids!!!
Cochise CHOPS Magazine
This magazine is NOT politically correct!!! We deal with mainly old bikes, old cars, old people and young folks who have their heads on straight, who are tired of status quo, and walking on egg shells so as to keep the peace. Socialism & Liberalism SUCKS!!! We bleed Red, White & Blue!!! cochisechops@yahoo.com or (386) 690-6270 Our Salesman, Shiny (386) 278-3370 “Where Old School “NEVER” Went Out Of Style!!!”
On The Cover The Real OG GI Jeff
Aug 3: To Broke For Sturgis Party, Pirate’s Pub!!!
Aug 4: Daytona Abate Monthly Meeting
Aug 4: Swap Meet @ Webster
Aug 11: Swap Meet @ Teddy Morse’s HD
Aug 17: Mystery Ride The Boat Bar 10AM $5 (includes meal)
Aug 25: Freedom Ride To???
Sept 2: Blue Plate Special Antique Bike Show @ The Boot Hill
Oct 17: CHOPPER TIME @ Tropical Tattoo 11Am Til 4PM
Read CHOPS Online NOW At cochisechopsmag.com
Services:
*Volusia Powder Coating, NSB
*Street Thunder, HD, Mims, FL
*Annie Oakley’s Ormond Beach
*Doom Town Choppers, NSB, FL
*Motorcycle Detailing, Daytona Beach
*V Twin Spealities (386) 310*8333
Other Services:
*Wind Walker’s Leather
*Super Wash Bike Wash, OB, FL
*A Ok Guns, New Smyrna Beach
*Once Upon A Wall Murals & Paintings
*Tropical Tattoo (386) 672*1888
*Tobacco Exoctical Cigar Super Store
Feb 2nd Blue Plate Special
Chops 4
Watering Holes:
*The Boot Hill Saloon On Main
*The Boot Hill Outpost, Ormond
*Pirate’s Pub, Paisley, FL
*Walden’s Bar, Daytona Beach
*The Boat Bar, Port Orange, FL
*The Most Read Magazine
*Foxhead Lounge In Osteen, FL
*OB’s Deland, FL
*Sorry Charlies, Samsula, FL
*The Last Resort Bar, Port Orange
Take A Ride South On Route 1 To Mims, FL For Whatever You Need These Men Are Good People ~ Cochise
Chops 5 Have You Stopped In To See Big Paul, Lately? You Won’t Be Sorry!!!
“I’ll Take Two Of Those!!!”
As you may have heard, our Sugar Baby decided to follow Drew, her Fiance to California to work there for a few years. Of course it broke B & my heart. Momma seems to be doing ok after a week, but ME, I’m crying every morning, night & anytime I wake up during the night. I miss her so, so much.
All we can do is pray for them and trust God to care for her while there. I know prayer and God’s hands can move great distances, plus I have the long arm of many “biker” friends that can be at her new house in an hour or two, in case someone wanted to “play” silly games!!!
My dear friend Ms. Eunice Turner from our printing company passed away, after only a month or two of being retired. She was a GREAT help to me for over 16 years. I come to love her very much, and know deep in my heart that she is now in heaven, for she was one of the BEST Christians I knew here. Rest In Peace Sweetheart & Thank you for everything you taught me in publishing. ~ Cochise
Chops 6
cochisechops@yahoo.com or (386) 690-6270
www.cochisechopsmag.com I sold a piece of my life last month, the last Chopper I built back in 2005. It hurt to see it go, but it was time, as it hurt my back when kicking it, though it “usually” started very easily. Getting old and being broke down sucks.
I rode that bike all over the Southeastern part of America. After completing it at Mad Creations on Carswell St, where I worked for awhile, with much, much help from Adam Stevenson, Rocko & Chopper Todd, I took off for a 3,000 mile trip, with ONLY one mishap occurring and that was coming home down Hwy. 301 in GA, the tranny bolts backed out some making the 2” belt to go in and out. I pulled over, got out a ratchet and an extension, put a 9/16th socket on it, righty tighty and BAM, I was back on the road within 15 minutes. This was the only problem in about 2,800 miles.
That trip took me to the Shadey Mayhem Party (the best outdoor open party I have ever attended..............awesome) in Hilton,VA, via FL, GA, TN & VA. I left from there and rode back roads on up to Bowling Green , KY to see my son, then went down to Land Between The Lakes to stay at Master Engraver C.J. Allens place for a couple of days. Then back to Owensboro, KY to see my other children, before heading to the Smoke Out In Salisbury, NC. I rode straight through, other than getting gas, but I never got off the scoot, just pumped it and rode off. That was 525 miles there, plus a hundred more riding around with some buddies later on.
That ole Chopper has taken me to Beckley, WV to ride back to the SO with 10 or 12 other Chopper Freaks, the next year, man what a BLAST!!! I’ll never forget that one either.
The Anti-Virus, as I named it took me to Ft. Myers so many times to see friends there, I can’t even recall the number of times. On one occasion & last trip there to pay my respects to Sweet Pete, Page 10
“WHERE THE LOCALS” “HANG OUT”
About 1 Mile South Of I-95, On Hwy 1
FULL LIQUOR BAR
ICE COLD BEER
BLOODY MARY SUNDAYS POOL
LARGE OUTDOOR PATIO
“Owned By The Best”
my throw out bearing went out & thanks to Jerry Dyer, who was riding with me, we crippled into Ft. Myers and got a local shop to fix it! Each of those trips were about 500 miles round trip, with zero problems.
The old girl did me good! I cannot complain about the service she gave me for almost 20 years. And to be a rigid frame Chopper, it rode better at high speeds (vibration wise) than this 1996 Softtail I own.
This was a TRUE Chopper! Marcus said it had “style” to be so ugly! LOL!!! It’s a Rigid Frame, Jockey Shift, Suicide Clutch, Kick Only, No Front Brake Motorcycle, and I loved it, but my back just couldn’t take the kicking it anymore. It wasn’t the ride that hurt me, just the kicking part, especially when it became very contrary, which usually happened at least once a day, in front of a bunch of people. HaHaHa
Well, she went to a good friend and I’m so glad, as I know he will take good care of her. May he change it to fit his personality, the way I did, or just leave it like it is. I can say to him, that is a good bike, it may be simple and it may be ugly, but I’d put that motor & tranny up against any other stock 80” Shovelhead around, any!!! Big Love ~ Cochise
RED SKELTON’S SECRET TO THE PERFECT MARRIAGE
1. Two times a week we go to a nice restaurant, have a little beverage, good food and companionship. She goes on Tuesdays, I go on Fridays.
2. We also sleep in separate beds. Hers is in California and mine is in Texas.
3. I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back.
4. I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary. “Somewhere I haven’t been in a long time!” she said. So I suggested the kitchen.
5. We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
6. She has an electric blender, electric toaster and electric bread maker. She said “There are too many gadgets, and no place to sit down!” So I bought her an electric chair.
7. My wife told me the car wasn’t running well because there was water in the carburetor. I asked where the car was. She told me, “In the lake.”
8. She got a mud pack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.
9. She ran after the garbage truck, yelling, “Am I too late for the garbage?” The driver said, “No, jump in!”.
10. Remember: Marriage is the number one cause of divorce.
11. I married Miss Right. I just didn’t know her first name was ‘Always’.
12. I haven’t spoken to my wife in 18 months. I don’t like to interrupt her.
13. The last fight was my fault though. My wife asked, “What’s on the TV?”
I said, “Dust!”.
Can’t you just hear him say all of these? I love it. These were the good old days when humor didn’t have to start with a four letter word or political. It was just clean and simple fun. And he always ended his programs with the words, “And May God Bless” with a big smile on his face.
Rest In Peace Shorty Crowder
May 16, 1937
May 8, 2024
Harley Mechanic
In loving memory of Eunice Mae Turner of Daytona Beach, Florida, who departed this world on July 14, 2024 at the age of 67.
Eunice leaves behind a legacy remembered by family and friends.
I will surely miss my Friend and Helper!
Chops 12
She’s a good kid, with a solid foundation for whatever she may have to deal with in life, so be blessed & have fun on this new venture!
Getting The Old Shovel Ready For The BLUE PLATE Antique Bike Show
Sept. 3nd 2pm - 4pm Boot Hill
Saloon
My Daughter, Now 45 Cleaning On My Old 1973 Superglide This Was In 1983
This Is My Wife’s Thing. Bianca Is So Talented & Can Really Liven Up Any Area With A Mural
Cornhole Tournament Every Sunday at 1PM
9-Ball On Mondays at 7:30PM 8-ball On Wednesday at 7:30PM
Walden’s is celebrating their76th Anniversary all year, so stop by and wish Kaylynn & Crew the BEST!!! ~ Cochise
Come Hang Out With Us And Enjoy
Same People A Few Years Apart!!!
I get your mag when I come to Daytona for Biketoberfest & we love it here in Ohio. Anyway this is a picture of me and two of my shovel riding buddies the one on the left is TAZ we lost him to cancer a couple years ago. I was wondering if you could print this as a memorial to him. Pictured from left to right TAZ, VARMINT and BIG TONY.
Thanks Tony
This
Was Written by Chief Dan George,
In the course of my lifetime I have lived in two distinct cultures. I was born into a culture that lived in communal houses. My grandfather’s house was eighty feet long. It was called a smoke house, and it stood down by the beach along the inlet. All my grandfather’s sons and their families lived in this dwelling. Their sleeping apartments were separated by blankets made of bull rush weeds, but one open fire in the middle served the cooking needs of all. In houses like these, throughout the tribe, people learned to live with one another; learned to respect the rights of one another. And children shared the thoughts of the adult world and found themselves surrounded by aunts and uncles and cousins who loved them and did not threaten them. My father was born in such a house and learned from infancy how to love people and be at home with them.
And beyond this acceptance of one another there was a deep respect for everything in nature that surrounded them. My father loved the earth and all its creatures. The earth was his second mother. The earth and everything it contained was a gift from Seesee-am…and the way to thank this great spirit was to use his gifts with respect.
I remember, as a little boy, fishing with him up Indian River and I can still see him as the sun rose above the mountain top in the early morning…I can see him standing by the water’s edge with his arms raised above his head while he softly moaned…”Thank you, thank you.” It left a deep impression on my young mind. And I shall never forget his disappointment when once he caught me gaffing for fish “just for the fun of it.” “My son” he said, “The Great Spirit gave you those fish to be your brothers, to feed you when you are hungry. You must respect them. You must not kill them just for the fun of it.”
This then was the culture I was born into and for some years the only one I really knew or tasted. This is why I find it hard to accept many of the things I see around me.
Chops 22
I see people living in smoke houses hundreds of times bigger than the one I knew. But the people in one apartment do not even know the people in the next and care less about them.
It is also difficult for me to understand the deep hate that exists among people. It is hard to understand a culture that justifies the killing of millions in past wars, and it at this very moment preparing bombs to kill even greater numbers. It is hard for me to understand a culture that spends more on wars and weapons to kill, than it does on education and welfare to help and develop.
It is hard for me to understand a culture that not only hates and fights his brothers but even attacks nature and abuses her. I see my white brothers going about blotting out nature from his cities. I see him strip the hills bare, leaving ugly wounds on the face of mountains. I see him tearing things from the bosom of mother earth as though she were a monster, who refused to share her treasures with him. I see him throw poison in the waters, indifferent to the life he kills there; and he chokes the air with deadly fumes. My white brother does many things well for he is more clever than my people but I wonder if he has ever really learned to love at all. Perhaps he only loves the things that are outside and beyond him. And this is, of course, not love at all, for man must love all creation or he will love none of it. Man must love fully or he will become the lowest of the animals. It is the power to love that makes him the greatest of them all…for he alone of all animals is capable of love. Love is something you and I must have. We must have it because our spirit feeds upon it. We must have it because without it we become weak and faint. Without love our self esteem weakens. Without it our courage fails. Without love we can no longer look out confidently at the world. Instead we turn inwardly and begin to feed upon our own personalities and little by little we destroy ourselves.
You and I need the strength and joy that comes from knowing that we are loved. With it we are creative. With it we march tirelessly. With it, and with it alone, we are able to sacrifice for others. There have been times when we all wanted so desperately to feel a reassuring hand upon us…there have been lonely times when we
so wanted a strong arm around us…I cannot tell you how deeply I miss my wife’s presence when I return from a trip. Her love was my greatest joy, my strength, my greatest blessing.
I am afraid my culture has little to offer yours. But my culture did prize friendship and companionship. It did not look on privacy as a thing to be clung to, for privacy builds walls and walls promote distrust. My culture lived in a big family community, and from infancy people learned to live with others.
My culture did not prize the hoarding of private possessions, in fact, to hoard was a shameful thing to do among my people. The Indian looked on all things in nature as belonging to him and he expected to share them with others and to take only what he needed.
Everyone likes to give as well as receive. No one wishes only to receive all the time. We have taken something from your culture…I wish you had taken something from our culture…for there were some beautiful and good things in it.
Soon it will be too late to know my culture, for integration is upon us and soon we will have no values but yours. Already many of our young people have forgotten the old ways. And many have been shamed of their Indian ways by scorn and ridicule. My culture is like a wounded deer that has crawled away into the forest to bleed and die alone.
The only thing that can truly help us is genuine love. You must truly love, be patient with us and share with us. And we must love you—with a genuine love that forgives and forgets…a love that gives the terrible sufferings your culture brought ours when it swept over us like a wave crashing along a beach…with a love that forgets and lifts up its head and sees in your eyes an answering love of trust and acceptance.
This is brotherhood…anything less is not worthy of the name. I have spoken!
Chops 24
“Don’t Forget To Broke For Sturgis Party 8/3”
Deland Icon ~ Marshal
The 1st Time I met Popa D, he had “corn rolls” in his hair & I thought that was cool, And his moustache & beard was always just as cool
He fought a long hard battle against Cancer but succumbed to this killer last month.
Popa D you will be missed Brother, very much.
“We all cry in private. But not in front of the boys. Never in front of the boys.” - June Wandrey: “An eighteen year old boy is carried into the shock ward, and he looks up at me trustingly asking, “How am I doing, nurse?” I just kiss his forehead and say, “You are doing just fine soldier.” He smiles sweetly and says, “I was just checking,” then he dies. We all cry in private. But not in front of the boys. Never in front of the boys.” - June Wandrey
June Wandrey Mann (1920–2005) was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps from Wautoma, Wisconsin. She was the author of Bedpan Commando, an account of her military service in Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany from 1942 to 1946, during which she was awarded eight battle stars.
RIP Grogg
Hogridin
RIP Grogg! You will be missed. Another brother gone. This month has been very difficult with the loss of family & friends. All gone but never forgotten. ~ Todd Sparmer
Another good man. I use to sit & talk with him on Wednesday nights, Shovelhead gig. Grogg was good people. ~ Cochise
On 7 January 1967, John Steinbeck was at Pleiku, Vietnam, where he flew aboard a UH-1 Huey helicopter with D Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry.
He wrote the following about the helicopter pilots: “I wish I could tell you about these pilots. They make me sick with envy. They ride their vehicles the way a man controls a fine, well-trained quarter horse. They weave along stream beds, rise like swallows to clear trees, they turn and twist and dip like swifts in the evening. I watch their hands and feet on the controls, the delicacy of the coordination reminds me of the sure and seeming slow hands of (Pablo) Casals on the cello. They are truly musicians’ hands and they play their controls like music and they dance them like ballerinas and they make me jealous because I want so much to do it. Remember your child night dream of perfect flight free and wonderful? It’s like that, and sadly I know I never can. My hands are too old and forgetful to take orders from the command center, which speaks of updrafts and side winds, of drift and shift, or ground fire indicated by a tiny puff or flash, or a hit and all these commands must be obeyed by the musicians hands instantly and automatically. I must take my longing out in admiration and the joy of seeing it. Sorry about that leak of ecstasy, Alicia, but I had to get it out or burst.”
Charles Hess
You can’t know unless you were there - how much we loved these “cowboys”. They saved my a** at least 2 times and maybe more - it’s such a blur for me. God...please...bless each and everyone of them. Angels from the sky. David Rose
And even after the war these guys were amazing!! I worked EMS in a rural area for years and we used helicopters a lot to transport our patients because of the distance to a trauma center and I could always tell by talking to them on the radio if they were Vietnam era pilots I swear these guys had balls as big as cantaloupes,they weren’t intimidated by any obstacle that was thrown their way!! True Heroes!!
Early Morning Rituals
By Kirk Carson
Louisiana, 1938: A Glimpse into the Lives of Fishermen’s Families
In the heart of the American South, amidst the swamps and bayous of Louisiana, life in 1938 was characterized by a deep connection to the land and water. The fishing community near Akers, Louisiana, offers a poignant snapshot of this era, vividly captured by the lens of Farm Security Administration photographer Russell Lee.
The photograph depicts a fisherman’s family returning from their early morning fishing trip. The image is steeped in the tranquility of dawn, where the mist rises off the water and the first light of day casts a gentle glow on the scene. This daily ritual was crucial for the family’s livelihood, as fishing was not just a job but a way of life passed down through generations.
The Fisherman’s Craft
Fishing in 1938 required skill, knowledge of the local waters, and a sturdy boat. The fisherman’s boat, likely a simple wooden skiff, is essential for navigating the intricate waterways of Louisiana. These boats were often handcrafted, reflecting the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the community. The family would have used nets, lines, and traps to catch fish, crayfish, and other aquatic creatures that were abundant in
the region.
Family and Community
The photograph by Russell Lee does more than document a family’s return from fishing; it tells a story of community and interdependence. In 1938, families in rural Louisiana were often large, with multiple generations living under one roof. Children learned to fish almost as soon as they could walk, and everyone had a role to play in ensuring the family’s survival. The catch from the morning’s fishing would not only feed the family but also be sold or traded within the community, strengthening social bonds and ensuring mutual support.
Challenges and Resilience
Life in 1938 Louisiana was not without its hardships. The Great Depression had left its mark, and rural communities faced economic challenges. Fishermen’s families, while self-sufficient in many ways, were not immune to these difficulties. Yet, the resilience and resourcefulness of these communities were evident in their ability to adapt and thrive despite the odds.
Preservation of Culture
The image of the fisherman’s family returning home near Akers, Louisiana, is a testament to the enduring culture of the region. It highlights a way of life that has persisted for centuries, rooted in a deep respect for nature and a profound sense of community. Even today, the traditions of fishing and communal living remain integral to Louisiana’s cultural heritage.
Russell Lee’s Contribution
Russell Lee, a prominent photographer with the Farm Security Administration, captured this moment with an eye for detail and a deep understanding of the human condition. His work, part of a larger effort to document American life during the Great Depression, provides invaluable insights into the lives of ordinary people. Through his lens, we are given a window into the past, allowing us to appreciate the resilience, resourcefulness, and enduring spirit of the fisherman’s family in 1938 Louisiana.
Drop By Anytime And Have A Cold Drink & Listen To Al’s Great Stories “HOME OF”
Check Out Our Chopper Show During Biketoberfest
John “Ozzy” Osbourne was invited to join the band that became Black Sabbath because he had his own PA system. Guitarist Tony Iommi was looking for a singer for his new band, and saw a flyer in the local music shop that said:
OZZY ZIG
REQUIRES
GIG! HAS OWN PA
Tony knew Ozzy from school, and strongly disliked him. In fact, Tony used to bully him in school, and generally thought he was a useless twerp. Tony thought it couldn’t possibly be the
same Ozzy - Ozzy Osbourne was no singer, and where would a family as poor as the Osbournes get the money to buy a PA system, anyway? Where would anyone in that section of Birmingham get the money for that?! That was a very expensive piece of musical equipment relatively speaking.
As it turns out, it was the same Ozzy, and his father had, incredibly, spent a small fortune to finance the purchase of a PA system for his non-musician, ne’er do well son John. This is pretty outlandish since the Osbourne family was indeed poor, and John was just one of many siblings. Why the elder Mr. Osbourne decided to go into serious hock to buy Ozzy a PA is a mystery to this day, even to Ozzy.
However, there it was. A singer with his own PA? Tony couldn’t say no at that point, and overcame his dislike of Ozzy to invite both him and Ozzy’s friend Terry “Geezer” Butler to join his nascent band. And the rest is history.
Khalil Gibran on Fear
It is said that before entering the sea a river trembles with fear. She looks back at the path she has traveled, from the peaks of the mountains, the long winding road crossing forests and villages. And in front of her, she sees an ocean so vast, that to enter there seems nothing more than to disappear forever. But there is no other way. The river can not go back. Nobody can go back. To go back is impossible in existence. The river needs to take the risk of entering the ocean because only then will fear disappear, because that’s where the river will know it’s not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean.
~ Khalil Gibran
The Beggar
This picture epitomizes why I became someone who decided to not bow down to the rich or famous. They are NOT better than me. I’ve always questioned authority, because this is what it looks like. I am an outlaw, living outside the “norm” because of these arrogant clowns, born into wealth, as I was born into being against such.
I determined after seeing my father bow down to these, and watching him swallow his pride with me standing there watching, (it deflated him), that I would not kiss azz for nothing. I will get it on my own or through divine intervention or it will not be mine.
Have I been disappointed from my decision, yes, but I’m still here. Have I ever asked for help? Only from those who offered it.
When I started Set Free Daytona Biker Church, the men above me asked me to ask other churches, pastors & such to finance me a living, etc. I tried it once, but refused afterward and we prevailed and did well. Long live the meat & tators of humanity, the common man.
2 Reasons Why My Generation Is NOT Offended & Soft
David Mann
Mystery Ride Aug 17, 2024
Meet Here @ 10am KSU 11am
$5 Includes Meal & 50/50
Where The Locals & Bikers Hang Out
Open Daily 7am - 2am
“Get Rid Of Your Hangover Here”
The East Bay Dragons Motorcycle Club of Oakland, California, started in the 1950s as a car club.
In 1959, Tobie Gene organized the Dragons, a loosely knit club for black men. The group was actually one of the first of its kind. It was originally created by Gene’s big brother as a way to help keep his younger brothers off the streets and out of trouble.
As time went on, other young kids joined the club. The Dragons adopted their own uniform. They wore black, grease-stained jeans and vests with their signature patch: a green dragon (Go to page 52)
Local Bike Nights:
Every Wednesday:
Boot Hill Saloon On Main St! Live Music & Specials
Taking your project bike out for that first ride is always an adventure.
against a gold background. The club’s name and hometown are in bright red stitching: “East Bay Dragons Oakland California.”
During the 1950s to late 1960s, it was rare to see a black man on a Harley motorcycle. Nevertheless, the East Bay Dragons risked their lives to ride among violence and discriminatory acts directed towards them.
Eventually, the club switched to an outlaw motorcycle club. They switched to two wheels instead of the full dressers as other motorcycle groups, and they encountered ethnic stereotypes, police misconduct, and other rival clubs.
The club membership grew and Tobie Gene became the first and only president of the East Bay Dragons MC. Today, the club still exists and is riding strong.
By Evita Ellis
Photo By
Bobby Owens
Photo By Bobby Owens
Joe Becigneul
I asked a friend who has crossed 70 & is heading towards 80 what sort of changes he is feeling in himself? He sent me the following:
1. After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children and my friends, I have now started loving myself.
2. I have realized that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.
3. I have stopped bargaining with vegetable & fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.
4. I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am.
5. I stopped telling the elderly that they’ve already told that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane & relive their past.
6. I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.
7. I give compliments freely & generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down, just say “Thank You.”
8. I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.
9. I walk away from people who don’t value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.
10. I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat & neither am I in any race.
11. I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.
12. I have learned that it’s better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships, I will never be alone.
13. I have learned to live each day as if it’s the last. After all, it might be the last.
Chops 56
14. I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be!
I decided to share this for all my friends. Why do we have to wait to be 60 or 70 or 80, why can’t we practice this at any stage and age?
Originally shared to me by my cousin Marie.
1952 Bud Schaller at Bonneville Going 160 mph on a Supercharged 61 CI Panhead! (I Sure Hope He Doesn’t Fall Off, With No Clothes On!)
