Full Spring Ahead

April may be known for bringing showers and flowers, but for me, April brings the masses to the classes. The demand for motorcycle training is like a constant rain in the spring, and training sessions fill up quickly early in the season. As of the first of May, I've already taught thirty people how to ride safely. Some of them have even learned to ride in the rain, snow sleet and hail! When it comes to weather conditions, Mother Nature provides!

More than a variety of weather, however, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation-based training courses give me the opportunity to spend time with people from all walks of life. People who come to learn about safe riding. And I get to help those people gain knowledge, skill and confidence in motorcycling, which for many of my students, is a dream come true.

My last class really stood out in that regard. Several students told me that they had come to the safety class to follow a dream that had been usurped or otherwise sidelined by illness, injury and even death. One student had lost his wife. Another, a good friend. Several had been in crashes or suffered serious injuries. Several more had serious medical histories. Their stories touched me, and I felt honored to take part in making their dreams come true. More than anything, I think this is why I love being a motorcycle safety instructor. It's like a taking a kid to Disneyworld for the very first time. When I see their eyes light up and their smiles grow wide, I get all warm and fuzzy inside.