The Int'l Motorcycle Show next Saturday!

[SCJJR65]

Woo Hoo!!!!     I found out today that for my birthday next week, my wife got tickets for us to go to the International Motorcycle Show in Atlanta next Saturday!!  And to make it just that much better, she made reservations for us to stay Saturday night at the Double Tree Inn, just a couple of miles from the World Congress Trade Center.  

I've never been to one of these shows, but some friends in our local BMW went to the Atlanta show last year, and they said it is absolutely H-U-G-E!!!!   All of the major bike manufacturers are there, plus most every major bike accessory brand has a booth there as well.  And this year, the event being held at the World Congress Trade Center is roughly twicethe size of the Galleria where last year's show was held.

I'm going to have my most comfortable walking shoes on, 'fer sure!  I don't know how long Pattimarie will be able to hold out, with her still recovering from her bike accident in June, but I intend to see everything I can, and take lots of photos!  With any luck, I'll have some cool pics to post and an interesting account to post!

[msbuck]

Wow!  That's a Faabulous  [smiley=birthdays.gif] present!  I'm with NV!

BTW,

[suecanada]

Ditto to Aïda's Happy Birthday to John! [smiley=beerchug.gif]

Do you have any specific gear or stuff you are looking to buy at the show? I bet your show is much bigger than our Toronto International Motorcycle show. You can even sit on a new 1200 or the 800 series bikes. Pattimarie sure is a sweetheart. How are you Pattimarie?? We all hope that you have healed well and just maybe will be back in the saddle??

[SCJJR65]

Hey, Sue!

I don't really have anything in particular I'm looking for at the show, just more or less gawk at all the shiny, new and oh-so-expensive bikes!    But you never know what cool little gizmo will be shouting, "Yoo-Hoo!  Take me home!"    I guess it's a good thing this show isn't coming around here after Pattimarie recieves her settlement, or I might go on some wild spending binge! (nyuk, nyuk!)   [smiley=happy.gif]  I do hope to sit on some of the new Beemers, though!  I also intend to take a good long look at the Moto Guzzi booth, and the new Norge 1200 and Breva 1100!  From what I've read about them, they sure sound sweet!

Pattimarie still hasn't decided yet if she is going to buy another bike or not.  She said she would consider riding two-up with me, once I get my R1200C and put the "comfort" passenger seat on back (and a back rest).  I really hope that she will want to ride her own bike once again, since that was something special we shared.  I'd hate it if that were taken away from us, but I'm not going to pressure her into getting back in the saddle if she is too frightened to.

Hopefully, Pattimarie's legs will be able to handle the show!  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Happy Birthday, John!  You must be, what, 35 now?

True love when your wife buys you tickets to a bike show with a hotel, to boot!

You should see about renting her a wheelchair so she doesn't have to worry about getting worn out!

Return the love, man!  [smiley=beatnik.gif]

[SCJJR65]

Hmmmmm....35.... Yeah, that's how old I'll be..... Yeah.......  

Pattimarie said she was going to prove that she could walk as long as I wanted to on Saturday, but just to be on the safe side, I do intend to inquire about wheelchairs, "just in case"!  

[Justin B.]

John, how is her recovery coming along?  Is her rehab on schedule, ahead, behind?  I bet she gets jealous when you go for a ride  [smiley=stare.gif],  I know my wife would!    My wife just switched jobs and hasn't decided whether she has the fortitude to ride into downtown and she's been "whimpering" about it a bit...  :-/

[Joan]

Whoa... John, I'm sorry to hear your Pattimarie had a bike accident, and I'm really glad she's even considering riding again. That's GREAT news! The bike show might be just the right therapy, too. Congrats and HB!  

[SCJJR65]

Thanks, Joan!  Yeah, my better half was in a nasty accident last June when a 28 ft. box truck pulled out in front of her while she was riding her '98 Suzuki 650 Savage to work.  She gave us all a good scare, because the impact caused some bleeding in her brain, which kept in her in NICU for a couple of days before the neurosurgeon determined she wasn't in mortal danger and could be moved into a private room.  Unfortunately, the x-rays on her were "misdiagnosed" and we found out 3 weeks after she was told she had no broken bones that she actually fractured her knee and her pinky finger in two places.  This was after she was more or less forced into trying to walk with the aid of a walker, too, and trying to hold the walker with a broken finger.  Anyway, she spent a month in a wheelchair, then a month in a walker, then two months on crutches, and now uses a cane to help her get around.  But she was able to go back to work three months after the accident, which helped her get back into a routine, so to speak.  She has been suffering headaches and dizziness though, from what the neurosurgeon called "post-traumatic stress syndrome", which he said could last a year or longer.  She still sees a neuropsychiatrist twice a month, as well as a counselor for some mood swings that are attributed to the accident.  But she was released from the orthopedic specialist a couple of weeks ago (Yay!!), which was great news, although he did tell her she may still need knee replacement surgery in a few years, due to arthritis from the fractured knee.

She still is hesitant about getting another bike to ride at this point, although she hasn't ruled out being a passenger and riding two-up with me!     [smiley=happy.gif] [smiley=happy.gif]

Hopefully, her attorney will have the settlement matter resolved before we have our one-year anniversary of her accident on June 30th.  Keep your fingers crossed!