No Whimps Allowed

NO WHIMPS ALLOWED

By: Margie Marshall

A few weeks ago I was coming home from the office in my car, in my scrubs, and it was cold.  I was driven off the road by a man in a large black van while he was talking on the phone.  Our lanes merged and he wasn’t paying attention.  As he came up along side of my car, I was yelling and blowing my horn to let him know that I didn’t have anywhere to go but up on the sidewalk and into a wall.  Traffic was heavy and I was starting to panic and then he came so close that I did go up on the sidewalk and blew 2 tires and my steering was uncontrollable and I finally came down back onto the road and didn’t hit any other cars or the big concrete light poll or the wall-that was a miracle in its self- and I continued on 2 good tires until I came to the nearest street that I could pull over on and stop.  I got out of the car with my cell phone and looked at the car and the 2 tires… I then started to shake and cry.  I just sat down on the curb and tried to call Edward and our son, but they were in the movies and had their cell phones off. 

A few minutes later a policeman on a HARLEY came up and asked if I was alright, was I hurt, and did I need to call anyone?  My whole head hurt and things went black and I knew I might pass out.  He took my cell phone and was about to call my ICE # and I said “Please don’t call that, I will be fine..”  He then sat down beside me on the curb and said, in a matter of fact voice, “Do you ride a Harley?” ( I guess he saw my sticker on the window).  I said yes and then he said – without missing a beat.. “Then buck it up!”  I was so surprised I started to laugh.  I just looked at him and kept laughing.  We called AAA- he waited until I was able to drive and go home. 

I thought about what he said for hours and later decided that I was a tough old broad and could handle some jerk in a big van that cost me 2 new tires and an alignment and half of my Saturday wasted in a tire place.   Some of my non-Harley friends look at me now that we ride and have said that I have changed a little.  I seem to have more “moxy” – I can’t think of a better work for a lady… If I were a man, I might say something like – I finally got ----s.. But… It felt good to think that I might have gained a little bit of strength by riding a Harley and of course being influenced by you’ll.  I still turn red and get all sweaty when I have to speak but at least next time some big jerk tries to run me off the road I won’t fall apart….