It seems we’ve had a run of bad luck in the last few weeks. Two brothers in accidents on the road, one hurt, and one with a heart attack.

I walked into the clubhouse for Friday steak night, and I was surprised to see a brother, who not even two weeks earlier skidded down the road on his head after being struck by a car, sitting at a table talking.

Shortly after, I came out of the kitchen to see a long-time member who had took a spill earlier in the summer enjoying his Budweiser and a cigar. Later that night, a brother who to everyone’s knowledge was still in the hospital due to a crash earlier in the week, rolled in with his wheelchair and cast, in some pain, but still, he made it.

Last night we had a hell of a storm. It was a pouring when our brothers from the Michigan chapter rolled in to ride down with us to the Free Wheelers annual party. We sat for a bit and watched the weather, waiting for a break. We finally saddled up and made the run in the pouring rain.

We made it without incident, got the bikes parked, went into the clubhouse and got settled. Much to my surprise, a brother who had a heart attack earlier in the week was there, clad in leather. It was shocking enough to see him there, but he rode his bike through a treacherous downpour. See, he was in contention for “most runs” for the year, and he wasn’t going to let that pass by. Damn.

Banged and bruised, broken bones, surgeries, stitches: doesn’t matter. Vigilantes just keep going. I wish all my banged up brothers a speedy recovery, and hats off to you for being the hearty, resilient SOBs that you are.

VFFV