Longhaulpaul's Chasing the Cure

 

 

“Excuse me. Did you say a minute ago that the hotel was busy because of tomorrow’s Cremation Convention?”

 

Although it had already been a long day with sharing my inspirational story at a luncheon and a dinner 200 miles apart, after 20 minutes of indecisive hemming and hawing, I had turned in my room key. Multiple Sclerosis can affect a person’s ability to make decisions, and this effect on the executive functioning area of the brain has been part of the cognitive symptoms I have been plagued with for almost a decade. It is one of the big reasons I can no longer be competitive in motorcycle endurance competitions, and also the reason I sometimes am  unable to make  simple selections off a dinner menu.

 

On this night however, after discussing it with my wife on the phone, I had finally made up my mind to travel home instead of staying the night.  I needed to be at work at 8:00 am regardless, and work was 200 miles away. If the Tuesday night traffic Gods were doing a good job directing, I would be crawling into my own bed next to my best friend, just before midnight.

 

Moments later, while putting my gear into the saddlebag of my motorcycle, I had second thoughts;  for the third  time.

 

I was justifiably tired, I had a hotel room already paid for, and I could really use an ice cold beer.

My decision to stay had nothing to do with the 30 years of suppressed juvenile puns and jokes that were already consuming my disease riddled head regarding what the front desk clerk had just revealed. These people were all here for a Cremation Convention?

Seriously?

 

 

I had legitimate burning questions that urned for answers and staying the night at the hotel also became a perfect accidental distraction.

 

Three hours earlier, on my way from speaking in Boston to the gig in Albany, one of my sisters had called into my helmet headset and informed me my Dad had been taken to the hospital by ambulance after falling and becoming disorientated early that morning. Apparently this was the second time it happened.  Doctors were doing tests and would watch him overnight. They did say it did not look like his multi-mended heart was the issue this go-around.

Instead of worrying about him for three long hours on the freeway ride home, I opted for the noisy packed bar and some pent-up childish humor.

 

 

 

I was able to get my room key back and considering the newly discovered circumstances, I double checked with the clerk that I indeed was in a “non-smoking” room.

I was not taking any chances with this crowd.

The hotel bar seemed packed for a Tuesday and I squeezed into the only open stool.

 

“I could use a stiff drink, I’m dead tired”, I proclaimed. “Can you make a Fireball?

“Man, these boots are killing me. I am dying to get them off.”

 

I was on a roll.

 

The young guy to my right smirked and said,

“you must be one of us ash holes.”

 

I pretended I was gravely offended,

“Just what the hell are you incinerating there, dude?

 

He apologized when he realized I was not one of them, and told me about the conference.  I soon confessed I already knew and bought a round of beers.

 

I was glad I decided to stay.  I never would have forgiven myself if I had ridden home without first hanging out with this group of afterburners.

 

It was quite an interesting evening, a lively group and good conversation. Turns out they don’t all live alone upstairs from the funeral parlor or drive Buicks. The two guys I chatted with were in a band, ran marathons and we swapped phones, showing pictures of families and pets.

Bits and pieces of memories (which is the most I can expect these days) of a junior high school summer job working at the cemetery surfaced, and we connected on yet another level.

They were fascinated to hear of my quest to ride a million miles raising awareness for MS. I was able to clear up their questions about Multiple Sclerosis and give some helpful information and resources to relay to a friend of theirs who was just diagnosed and completely devastated by the diagnosis.

 

My decision not to drive home might have been juvenile, but morphed into a worthwhile and meaningful detour. There seems to be a reason for all that happens in my life, even the little things. In addition to sharing my story to MS patients at lunch and dinner, knowing I also had delivered a bit of hope and straightened out some misconceptions about MS helps fuel my mission and determination to continue my awareness campaign.  I gained a few more followers of my blog, and I quenched my thirst!

 

Before I left the bar my new friend hand wrote a partially alcohol induced coupon for 30% off any funeral services.

 

As I looked at the coupon, I was pretty sure it would not make it to the prize bag for the 2015 MS5000 motorcycle fundraiser, but the thought and gesture was appreciated.

 

After executing the second phase of a blink, it was quarter-to-five the next morning.  With a routine practiced over 50 times this year, I was ready and out of the parking lot in 15 minutes.  Although I try to book hotels with free breakfast, I always end up leaving well before the cooks arrive!

 

I rode on back roads all the way to Concord New Hampshire; unfortunately for the first two and a half hours the most excellent newly paved twisty roads were only visible through my Garmin because of the rain, darkness and thick fog. With the zoom scale set to one inch equals one inch,  I rode to work at or below the posted speed limit. As the sun came up and burned away the fog, I eventually was able to stop and snap a couple of classic photos of autumn in New England.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used to say I wanted my body donated to either science or the circus when I died, but now, I think I might want my ashes cryogenically frozen, just in case they find a cure for old age. 

 

I called my Mom later for the update on my Father. The doctors did not find anything seriously wrong, so it looks like Dad will be ok and heading home.

 

My decision to leave the coupon at the bar the night before was easy to make,

and was not by accident.

 

 

Cheers!
Longhaulpaul

 

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