Blue Bells vs. Blue Bonnets

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"Those are Blue Bells," Boomer stated. "They only bloom when it's been really dry. You can tell we haven't had any rain in a long time."

Took a ride up to Brenham to meet up with some friends this past Saturday. It was raining in Galveston at 8am but I headed out anyway. I don't mind the rain. Once out past 1960 on 290 there wasn't a drop of rain anywhere and by the time I arrived at Boomer's house the sun was shining. Thank you Karen for breakfast! Especially those chocolate covered strawberries... omgosh... they were wonderful...

After visiting and eating we headed out on the backroads around Lake Summerville and north of Brenham. Stopped for lunch at a nice little place for some great BBQ (thanks Richard!) and more visiting. Boomer told us how 21 years ago he knew he found a "good woman" when he met Karen on a blind date. The story was so tender... years later he recognizes how blessed he is to have her. She doesn't ride. She has her Red Hat ladies and he has his Indian. They truly are two healthy and happy individuals who make up one grateful soul.

After lunch Boomer said we would be opening them up a little more when I said I was really ready to hit the twisties a bit harder. Ohgod how good it was to be riding on those curves, winding in and out, feeling the pegs scrap and enjoying the wind in my hair. It's a free feeling like no other. That is what it's all about for me. Riding Hope -- riding free -- that's when all the negatives go away and all that exists is the road and Hope & I. That is when Hope whispers, breathes and sets me free. We ride as one... I can't tell where I end and she begins when we hit that "zone". We just are...

If I know nothing else, I know this:

All those years I watched the riders going past my home on their way to the hill climb and wished to be one of them -- I now know why. It's something inside... it's always existed. It simply needed to be freed -- to be. So many years I never knew - I never understood how good it would feel to simply be. That's the key to freedom. That's the key to living. That's the key to understanding and quiet contentment.

Just breathe...