March 23, 2011 8:18 AM PDT
It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday in June 1975....my old riding buddy Arthur Ray Kornegay, a fellow named Jerry (I think) and I were riding back into town after a long day at a pig-picking at the Brotherhood MC's club house. Needless to say we were well oiled for the ride (an action I no longer endorse)...riding three abreast, having a good ol' time, a carload of young ladies behind us enjoying our attention. As we approached an intersection with a gas station on the corner, the light changed to red. We pulled up to the light, still side by side, and I immediately failed to place the foot to the pavement, an action that resulted in me falling into Arthur Ray who, in turn, fell into Jerry causing Jerry to meet the pavement. Applause erupted from the gas station, hysterical laughter from the carload of "no longer impressed" young ladies, and horns being blown from cages throughout the intersection. Various terms of endearment began to flow in my direction as we picked ourselves up and regained control of the scooters. As I looked across the intersection, much to my dismay, sat one of the cities finest, looking at us, shaking his head in disbelief, and then looking away as if saying, "I don't want any part of this circus act!" The light changed to green, we took off, the girls passing us, blowing kisses our way and still laughing, and the police officer driving off into the opposite direction. Needless to say....I did not live that one down for a long time and had to buy many, many beers...and had to stop alone, either behind the others or in front of the others until I redeemed myself.
Man I miss those guys........