I just really needed someone to talk to and turned to you guys. Hope you don't mind me venting here. It can be a hard day to get through.

My husband, Jody, used to joke about this license plate he had since he was 18. He transfered it to every car he ever had till he was 33. The plate number was "TGD 794" and he called it Tragedy 7/94. July (7) of 1994 he was a nervous wreck! He was sure something horrible would happen. But it didnt. He laughed about it later and said he was sure glad he was wrong. I was holding that plate a while back and I said to myself, "well, you got it partly right, Babe. The tragedy in the seventh month for sure"... (He died the first day of July, in 2000) "But.." I puzzled..."I don't know about the 94...no....wait!" and I ran for the filing cabinet and his death certificates. Guess what his time of death was? 9:40 PM exactly. Weird, huh? But no weirder than me having written 30 days before he died (in his first plane ride ever with his brother) a poem that started "Let it not be said my life was vain, I've just moved onto a higher plane" (plane haha)

This man was the one who turned our son's life around when we adopted Ace, a five year old terror, angry at the world, suicidal, testing us constantly. When he set one of his fires in the house, Jody took him onto the front step in the middle of winter and sat there till they were both shivering and then told him..."Son, we aren't giving up. You burn the house down, you live out here in the cold with us. Understand?" Ace nodded and shivered and Jody hugged him and brought him back inside... Ace never set another fire. Another time, trying to teach Ace that he couldnt do anything he wanted to anyone and just get away with it by saying "sorry" Jody took the tire off Ace's bike. Ace was furious. Jody shrugged and said, "sorry" Ace howled and begged and all Jody would do was apologize profusely! Ace finally got it, at which point Jody laughed and put the tire back on. He was amazing. Tough shoes for me to fill. I hope I'm doing as good a job as possible.

It's been four years today since I got that phone call from his father saying he and his brother crashed into a cornfield 20 miles from here and both died instantly. Four years ago today I remember screaming "noooooo" a lot of times, I remember tears, mine and our sons, who were 8, 9 and 10 years old then. I remember unbelievable pain and grief...but more than that, I remember Jody...living, not dying......what is one day in a life? July 1st is a beginning as much as an end. I'm celebrating his life, and I wanted to share him with y'all. He would have fit right in here. Not only did he have an awesome sense of humor, but he loved to ride. He didn't have a VN750, poor guy, he had a Yamaha 850, but he loved the wind in his face, the feel of a twisting road beneath his tires...and every time I ride I have a feeling he's passing me on the other side, giving me the wave and that smile that lit up my life for the 9 years we were married.

I'm going to ride to the cemetery today on my bike, but I'm not going to make it my destination. I'm going far beyond it. After all, the grave is just a stop on a journey that lasts forever and there are a million twists and turns... time to put the rubber to the asphalt and see where it takes me.

And hey....thanks for listening....

Talie

No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; ... any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. John Donne (http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/John_Donne/) (1572 - 1631), Meditation XVII
Faith,
I'll ride an extra mile today in memory...no in honor of Jody.

Tallie,
You have brought tears to these tired old eyes. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us today. Your courage in the face of adverisity gives us all hope that we too can soldier on when faced with tragedy. There are lots of cliches, sayings and bible verses that could be quoted, but I'm sure you've heard them all. I hope some day to meet you and give you a grandfatherly hug.

Dennis in MD
The Krusty Old Phart
Still turnin' burnin' and lurnin'

God Bless you and your sons. You are an inspiration to us all Faith. I'll ride an extra mile or two for you today. I look forward to riding shotgun with you someday, giving you a great big hug and maybe even sharing a tear or two. Mark and Elysse (Flemdog)

Faith,
Amy and I send you are most heartfelt sympathy for your husband. That was a amazing post you wrote. You and your boys are in our thoughts. May Jody watch over you when you ride.

Sincerely,
Carvey "Woo Hoo" Parker

Talie,

I just read your post. I send my thoughts and prayers to you and your sons on this anniversary date. It seems to me that you and your sons have endured a lot, but the fond memories you all have are shared by each of you. You, in turn, have shared this with us and we are grateful for you sharing this story with us.

I truly beklieve that as you are riding your bike down the highway, Jody is with you at all times and enjoying the moment with you. Glad to here you are going to take a little extra time for a ride today. Enjoy it to the fullest. I was so touched by your story, that I too will ride a few extra miles this afternoon on my way home from work. As I ride, I will think of you riding, with Jody by your side.

Have a great ride today!! Take care and thankls for the very touching story.

Waynebo37
'01 VN750

Thanks so much for sharing, Faith. We are all with you, thinking about you and the kids and praying for you. It's obvious that he was a very special man who left a positive impact on many lives......

My wife and kids say I'm not very emotional but you have managed to bring a tear to my eyes. I have been lucky enough not to lose anyone close yet and can only hope that I am rememberd with as much feelings as you have shown here.
Chilly

Powerful. Touching. Left me Speechless. Thank you for sharing.

Same here, Talie, left me in tears. . we are here if you need us.

RB

Tallie,
You have brought tears to these tired old eyes. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us today. Your courage in the face of adverisity gives us all hope that we too can soldier on when faced with tragedy. There are lots of cliches, sayings and bible verses that could be quoted, but I'm sure you've heard them all. I hope some day to meet you and give you a grandfatherly hug.

Dennis in MD
The Krusty Old Phart
Still turnin' burnin' and lurnin'

Talie,

You do great honor to your late husband, Jody. Thanks for sharing your moving narrative with your VN750 family.

My Dad, used to say that we never really completely get over losing a loved one, because we would have to forget them in order to fully erase the longing and loneliness of missing them, and that would be too high a price to pay. He also said that time is a great healer, and that given a little "tincture of time" we will heal, and that will allow us to get past the worst of the heartache, yet remember all of the good and happy moments we shared with them.

May God bless you and your sons.

Neal/Ratty

Tallie;

Sorry that I did not get around to reading your post until this morning, but your story touched me very deeply and dare say I, brought a tear to my stoic eyes as well. Jody sounds like he was an incredible human being that unfortunately was taken from this earth too soon. I will be thinking about him this weekend when I ride while "loving the feel of the wind in my face" as he did. You are indeed, an inspiration to the rest of us, and I truly believe by sharing your story, his spirit will be in all of our hearts from here on out.......

Stevie D.
Chicago

Faith,

Thank you for sharing this with us in the hope that it has helped ease the pain some....please know that we love & care for you very much. I can't imagine what you have been through, your courage & strength is touching. Family is there to share the happy and the bad, we are always here for you.

A very touching and poignant story Faith. Everyone here is inspired by your courage and dedication in the face of such a tragedy.

Spence

Ma' lady,

You are in my prayers.
You are an inspiration.
Your love, life and loss is felt by us all.

Faith, you have given me Hope to rise above my small problems and continue to survive whatever life tosses my way.

Thank you

Not much more I can say that hasn't been said...so thank you for sharing.

Yes, same here as Fallguy, cant add to this in any way, but thanks for sharing this story, was on vacation during this thread, or I would have answered sooner. very touching and awakening story.