My friends...The last 2 days have been truly horrible!

[polmaven]

I was sleeping soundly at 1:00 AM on Sunday morning when my phone rang, and my peace of mind fell to pieces.

My sister was on the other end, and told me that her daughter's significant other had been killed in a motorcycle accident a few hours before.

Her daughter was out of state on her annual "girl's weekend" at the time, and her 17 year old grandson was at home with his 18 year old female friend, and took the phone call with the news.

I was the closest, and could get there the quickest, so I threw on some clothes and sped to their house.

The 44 hours since that time have been truly awful.

He was a 38 year old man, who has been around bikes all his life. I makes no sense at all that he lost control and hit another bike and a tree. He was always soooo careful.

My niece has had some really bad relationships, and had finally, 4 years ago, found the true love of her life. They were soul mates. She is absolutely devastated, and watcheing her heart break is breaking my own heart.

He was really one of the "good guys". They adored each other. His son and daughter adored her, and her son and daughter adored him. The girls are 1 year apart in age, and are as close as sisters. I adore all of them.

I know we are looking at a really tough few months ahead, and I am really grateful to have friends here who think along the same lins as I do. What a relief to have someplace to go where I have thousands of friends to chat with.

Thanks for being there, DU.

Pam

[are_we_united_yet]

1. Pam

I'm sorry you and your family have to endure this tragedy.

[Robb]

2. It's been bad

and it's not going to get better for a while yet. There's a longish road ahead of all of you. And I am so sorry!!

My heart goes out to you. Remember to come by if you need a laugh, or whatever comfort we dish out here.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. That is heartbreaking

My sympathies to your niece, his family, your family and all the children. Please know you will be in my thoughts. I am sorry for your loss as well but am glad they all have in you such a caring comforting family member to depend upon in rough times.

Hang in there. I am so sorry.

((((((HUGS))))))

[UrbScotty]

4. Oh no! Another death!

AnnabelLee just posted that she had to put her cat down, and now your niece loses a boyfriend in an accident?

Best wishes in the days, weeks, and months ahead. :loveya:

[searchingforlight]

5. Pam

My heart goes out to you and your family. It makes the rest of tis look trivial.

[Maccagirl]

6. Please know that we are here for you

When you have to pour out your pain, please feel free to do so. My sympathy to your family.

[Sperk]

7. How dreadful! I'm so sorry...

I'll pray for you and the families involved.

[Habibi]

8. Dear God

Pam, I'm so very sorry for you, your niece, and the entire family. How tragic, how sorrowful, how awful. May you all go down into your grief and come up whole.

Micky, who doesn't pray much but thinks it's a good idea in this case

[ronnykmarshall]

9. I'm so sorry Pam.

Cyber hugs to you and your family.

[latebloomer]

10. I am so sorry

This is tragic. I feel terrible for your niece and the kids, especially.

Peace, Love, and Strength to you all-

lb

[democrat in Tallahassee]

11. I know what you are going through

My brother died in a motorcycle accident. He survived Vietnam (kind of) and then came home to be killed in a stupid accident.

It will take a long long time; My thoughts are with you and your family. The first 6 months are brutal, but it will get better.

[On the Road]

12. May God Comfort Your Niece and All of You

This is so tragic.

[Coventina]

13. deep sympathy

What a terrible tragedy.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your whole family.

[jrthin]

14. Pam, I am so sorry for the loss and

pain you and your love ones are enduring. Any words I think of seem so inadequate to the situation, but...my thoughs are with you.

[AnnabelLee]

15. So much pain

My thoughts are with you, your niece, the children, everyone affected by this.

[Darranar]

16. My sympathies...

for you and your family.

[polmaven]

17. I am grateful to all of you.

Your prayers and your best wishes are very much welcomed and appreciated.

My pastor has been there, close at hand, even to the point of changing her sermon yesterdy morning, with only 2 hours notice of what had happened, to give words of comfort to my mother and me from the pulpit.

Mom will be 84 years old in November, and this has been very hard on her. She is a strong woman, though, and will weather this storm as she has others in the past.

Again, I am truly grateful for this board, and the many friends who are always here, at the touch of the keyboard, to help.

Thank you all.

Pam

[blondeatlast]

18. Prayers to you and your family.

DUers can really lend some comfort, I know.

:loveya:

[0rganism]

19. sometimes people give gifts in death that could be given no other way

As aweful and unfair as it is, perhaps this will help unite you with that arm of your family in a way previously impossible. I've seen family members that lived minutes away from one-another act as distant as total strangers, until the death of someone important brings them back together. I hope you can salvage something precious in the middle of this strange sorrow, even tho we know the price is far too high.

You and your family have my deep sympathy, and hopes for better times to come.

[Cheswick2.0]

20. Pam

This is horrible and of course it will take your daughter a long time to recover. But, what she has learned from being in a good relationship will stay with her and she will no longer accept a bad one.

I am so sorry to hear about this happening.

[northofdenali]

21. We had two bikers die here last week in an idiotic accident -

It looks like the 73-year-old driver of the car that hit them - head on- was on medication that made him fall asleep.

The bikers were from Ohio. The driver of the car was from California. There was no reason, or any way to make sense of, the crash.

Anytime a motorcyclist goes down, the entire motorcycle community comes together in sorrow. Many who die on bikes are good, careful, trained drivers who become victims of folks in cars who pay no attention to motorcycles on the road.

Wednesday is National Ride to Work day. I don't care if it's snowing, I'm riding. The point is to let everyone become aware of how many bikes are on the road, and that those who drive range from Hells Angels to doctors, warehouse supervisors (like my hubby) to billionairs (Malcolm Ford).

Please, please, please everyone - share the road. Watch out for bikes. Don't tailgate, ever (if the bike goes down, and you're tailgating, the driver is usually a goner). Don't let anyone you know ride without promising to wear a helmet. Join with ABATE and other motorcycle groups to promote awareness. If you ride, and ride without a helmet, google the statistical chances of your survival v. survival with a helmet. It'll surprise you. I don't believe in mandatory helmet laws - I do believe in common sense.

Pam, if there is any comfort I can offer, any act I can perform, any words I can write or music I can play - it's yours. Have your niece check out the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum in Delphi - there is a thread topic there, 2 Killed in Alaska - I think she'll find comfort from the support the biking community offers to those left behind.

Godspeed to your niece's boyfriend - may his new roads be free of cross winds, deer/moose and his tanks always full.

Karen

[inthecorneroverhere]

22. sorry to hear -

...keeping my eyes out for bikes. I like to see bikes -

[kathee]

23. I lost my brother

in a motorcycle accident. Smack-dab on my bday no less. He was 29.

I can imagine that your comfort to your family is sorely needed right now. Sounds like you are a wonderful, giving person to be there for them. It was the very few people like you who got me through such a horrible time.


Ya'll have some rough times ahead. Peace to all of you, and my heart goes out to you and your family.

[SyracuseDemocrat]

24. i'm sorry for your loss

n/t

[playahata1]

25. Hugs, good vibes, and prayers on the way.

Stay strong. Peace and blessings.