There are good days, and there are GOOD DAYS. Today I had a GOOD DAY. Hell, a BANNER DAY.

[cherokeeprogressive]

I live in a paradise at 7000 feet not too far from Los Angeles called Big Bear Lake. Today, we had a motorcycle run called "The Run for the Grizzlies". I was lucky enough to be chosen to be Master of Ceremonies... (The moral of THIS story is don't go drinking with Jack, the guy who brings it all together, but I was more than happy to grab the mike) A little background:

The Moonridge Animal Park in Big Bear Lake, CA is a not so much a zoo as an animal sanctuary. All the animals there are rescue animals; from Coyotes hit by cars to Bald Eagles fucked with by insensitive people to Mountain Lions found in the wild who were either sick or injured and deemed not able to survive on their own, and a FAMILY of relocated Grizzly Bears. It's a wonderful place, and most of the people who work there are volunteers. Whenever friends and family come to visit, we always take them there. There's something about standing on the other side of a chicken-wire fence from a Grizzly as big as a Volkswagen or a 125 lb Mountain Lion that must be experienced to understand. The biggest thing for me, is that it's home to the only FAMILY of Grizzlies in California. There are none left in the wild. Read about our Grizzlies here: http://moonridgezoo.org/map/grizzly.html

Today started bad, with thunderstorms both visible and forecast. We were worried that no one would come, even though it's the 16th Annual. Well, in the end over 150 bikes showed up with their riders, and we made over $7300 for the zoo. You may have heard before the old cliche that "some days you eat the bear, and some days the bear eats you..." well thanks to those good people who gambled on the weather and won... until the next time we do this next summer, the bears (and all of their friends) eat on US.

To top it all off, when I left the stage for the last time a pretty lady came to me and pressed a phone number into my hand. She said one of her friends was there and was wondering if I was looking for a "friend" to ride around the lake with after the festivities were over. The first thing that popped into my mind was

my wife's out of town

and, the first words out of my mouth were

(polite tilt of the head and warm smile) I'm married.

The pretty lady who pressed the number into my hand seemed embarrassed and I thought I'd tell her that hey, I'd put her friend on the list. Then I KNEW how tacky that sounded so I bit my tongue. I wouldn't have meant it, nor would it have been true.

In the end, I went to where they were sitting, and called her girlfriend out for a hug. I told her that I was beyond flattered and that she made my day, hell, my week and month. Then, before I rode away on my Road King, I called my wife and told her about the whole thing. SHE said "Hell, she didn't want YOU, she wanted a ride on The Road King silly."

Now, I'm not the world's WORST looking guy, but at no time in my life has any woman ever approached ME, or sent her friend to do the same.

I can't tell you how big I'm smiling right now, or how happy I am to be home and safe, waiting for my beautiful wife to come home from vacationing with her friends.

It's a fucking good day.

ETA: I was so fucking happy when I came home I thought I was posting this in the Lounge... sorry for that. Now that I'm home though... WE DRINK!

[lillypaddle]

1. Sounds like a wonderful day for you

and also for your wife. :)

[InvisibleTouch]

2. Thanks for helping the grizzlies - and the other animals too! :) n/t

[LooseWilly]

3. Cheers...

:toast:

[panader0]

4. My rec brought this to zero

Who would unrec this except maybe somebody with jealousy over your fun day. Cudos for raising money for a good cause.
I play in a band and a coupla years ago we did Christmas in July, a toy gathering event where bikers donate for kids.
A huge long line of Harleys on one side and another of Indians on the other side. Hell, a few of them rose their bikes through the double doors into the big dance hall and rode around. Cool, but too much smoke.

[Shagbark Hickory]

5. That does sound like a great day indeed. On behalf of the animals,

thanks for helping to raise money for their sanctuary.

I'm still envious as hell of your fucking view and weather.

[givemebackmycountry]

6. CP - Milk it for as long as you can brother.

Days like that only happen 2 or 3 times in a life for most, so celebrate it to the max.
The fact that your honey is en route is all the better.

Hey!
:toast: :pals: :toast:

[cherokeeprogressive]

9. It's about the animals... but: I'm 50, and I FELT the blush coming from under my collar.

My wife laughed so hard I thought she'd choke.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

7. I'm not sure that there is a better feeling in life as finding someone who

you find attractive is attracted to you. That would put a smile on my face and your wife sounds pretty cool too. She should be flattered to know that she got there first, that you love her, and that others would like what she has.

[cherokeeprogressive]

10. Would that every person got to feel that at least once.

And better than that, would that everyone in the world could understand it's not always attraction to the opposite sex where such feelings are inspired.

Toast!

[Missy Vixen]

8. I love this story

I'm sure you already know this, but your wife is a keeper.

One of my author colleagues is entranced with my husband. I give him crap about it, too, but he doesn't have a Road King. ;-)

:toast:

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. Damn. You've confirmed my fear... I knew it wasn't about me.

I'm selling the scooter. Is your husband in the market?

[Missy Vixen]

12. Of COURSE it was about you.

It's the wife's job to tease you mercilessly about her rivals for your affection.

My husband wishes he were in the market. He's dealing with an impoverished author, which means that if I ever hit the NYT and make sufficient funds, I will be finding myself at the Harley-Davidson store on his behalf.

Seriously: We think it's fine when other women look. It means we made a good choice. ;-)

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. He is a Lucky Man as well.

Truth be told, it was actually my wife who said "let's stop at this Harley dealer" while we were on a Sunday drive in So. Cal. That was when times were way more flush than they are now. Forty-five minutes later, I walked out with a receipt in my pocket for the deposit, holding her hand for all I was worth and trying not to skip to the car.

[Raine]

14. I LOVE Big Bear, I've been going up there since I was a little girl.

It's such a BEAUTIFUL place I envy you getting to be up there ... CONGRATS on a GREAT day!!! :bounce:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. My dear cherokeeprogressive!

Huge congrats on your banner day!

I'm thrilled you did so well for the animals...

And the lady?

She knew what she wanted, all right...

;)

[druidity33]

16. what, no pictures?

seriously, we know you took some... c'mon now, don't be shy.

:)

[TygrBright]

17. Good on you! I have to admit I'm always tickled when women find my esposo fetching.

Of COURSE I think he's the World's Most Wonderful Human Being, but I'm always impressed by the good taste exhibited by others who notice this.

He, on the other hand, always says that the way to get his attention is to talk nice about me.

It's always nice to be reminded that we're, um... social types.

amusedly,
Bright