Long May You Ride

Most of my stories are meant to be either funny or inspirational.  This one is a retrospective of a good friend who is no longer with us.

As I was growing up I was the "baby" of the family.  Being the "baby" meant that I was the third wheel when any of my three older brothers would go horseback riding, tromping through the woods, fishing, or shooting guns.   They were all great about wanting to include me in their jaunts.  Even their friends were were very accepting of having me along.  One such friend was a neighbor named Daren.

His parents and my parents were great friends so naturally he was one of the crew.  At different times throughout the years, he sort of became "hang out" buddies with two of my brothers.  I could write an entire book on some of the crazy and hilarious pranks he and my brothers pulled while in high school.  As time went on, my brothers all went to work or college and Daren stayed around.  I can remember one or two summers where Daren, Slick (another neighbor), and I would load up into his classic 69' Chevy pickup and go fishing from sunrise till after dark every day.  We'd show up at 9:30 pm at my house and start cleaning and cooking fish.  Then we'd eat and talk till my mom would be nodding off at the table!  The next day we'd leave early and do it all over again.

Daren was extremely witty, so much so that our conversation would already be over, before I would actually "get" the joke or pun he'd just made.  Anyone meeting him for the first time would always be entertained by having a conversation with him.  He was also a natural born leader.  People would gravitate toward him and just sort of go along with whatever he was doing at the time.  Some of the biggest church-youth group shindigs I can remember as a kid were a result of his coordinating.

On the other hand, when he wasn't taking me fishing or participating in the youth group at church he gained a reputation as the ultimate party animal.  Being crazy, driving fast, drinking, pulling pranks etc....were his calling cards.  He had also gained a reputation as a person with "sticky fingers".  People would warn me about running around with him because he had been accused of stealing antiques out of old home places and barns.  These accusations were valid.

As I got closer to graduating high school, Daren had put in an antique shop in town and had been trolling around on an old Huffy bicycle.  He often rode by our house, stopping in to eat with us on occasion and began prodding me to get a bike.  As a result of his nagging I eventually went with him to Walmart and brought home a Murray mountain bike.   I figured I'd need one for college later anyway.  Minutes after we got the green Murray unloaded, Daren and I were riding down a country road.  I remember being amazed at how a bike with gears made it easy to cover lots of ground!  A few days later, we had my next oldest brother along...then again and again.  Soon after this, we began attacking logging roads and ATV trails.  Little did I know then that this would change my life forever.

After I got married I began to see less and less of Daren.   My wife and I spent several years out of state and when we returned he had really "fallen off the deep end".  He had really been doing this for a while and we had just chose not to associate with him.  More often I would hear of him "almost getting caught" stealing.  He'd be at church every Sunday for a month, then he'd stop coming again.  I would frequently see him out somewhere stoned out of his mind.  It reached a point to where hes was not welcome in most places.  At times he'd show up at my house or my mother's house wired up and talking at 110 mph about his plans....then he'd vanish.  One evening recently, he finally was freed from his demons by a ditch bank on the side of a highway.

Before his death, he had burned almost every bridge he had ever crossed, hurting lots of people along the way.  There was no denying that he had stole from half of the community.  People seem to focus on these points as they were the most prevalent parts of his existence over the last ten or fifteen years of his life.  While I do not condone his behavior in any way, I'd like to point out a few of the things he influenced in my life.

First of all, he taught me at a young age how important it was to appear confident even if I wasn't.  He taught me the proper way to hold a fork and spoon.  He was an excellent fisherman and the quickest shot with a .22 rifle I have ever seen in person.  Through his actions he showed me how an upbeat and optimistic person was a welcome addition to any group of people.  He was a free spirit and always willing to try something for fun.  Once we positioned our flat bottom boat atop a steep gravel bank beside the river since there was nowhere to launch the boat.  He got in, grabbed his seat and ushered us to push him off the bank.  With a loud roar he hollered as the boat skidded down the bank...all to come to a halt just before the water's edge!  This was followed by lots of laughter and a good day's fishing and joking.

I know that Daren is in heaven now because I know that he accepted Jesus into his heart.  Many of his actions here on earth were contrary to a Godly existence, but he had "everlasting life" like anyone else who believes in Jesus's name.  Daren lied, cheated, and stole from lots of people during his life but he also left a few gifts along the way.  In my life, the memory of his wittiness and raspy laugh will always make me smile.  He was the best fishing partner I have ever known and I can't remember a single time that he wasn't fun to be around.  He lives on in my house when I show my kids the silly "Chicken Scratch" and "Tater Dig" dances that he used to do to the beat of loud music.  Sometimes, while talking to people, my inner monologue still wants to use some of his sayings...but they might not be so appropriate most times!

Lastly, I have Daren to thank for introducing me to the sport of cycling.  It is the consequence of this one thing that I have made some of the most cherished and worthwhile relationships in my life.  Some people who have had the most profound influences in my life have came into my life because of the BIKE.  I never feel  more free than when I am watching the horizon and feeling the wind in my face from a bicycle.  During the years since he begged me to buy that cheap mountain bike, I have joined groups, sweated, hurt, laughed, competed, and stayed physically fit on the bike.  Yes, there have been stretches when I have not ridden my bike for months on end, but it is always there.  And now, as a father I have two boys who ask me all the time to take them riding!  I only have one answer for that question....YES!  My wife loves bicycles too!  Isn't it funny how something that might seem insignificant now can turn out to be very significant later?  I pray that I affect people in a positive way that might change their lives down the road too.  Daren was a hard friend to have, but a friend he was.

So to Daren, I say "Thank you my friend.  Long may you ride!".