BadgerMan
Mi. Trail Riders
- Jan 1, 2001
- 2,479
- 10
In 1995 I took a job as Quality Manager for a large tier one auto parts supplier in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While I was there, I kept hearing my co-workers speak fondly of my predecessor who had left for a position as Quality Manager at one of our better suppliers. This talk went on and on to such a degree that I started wondering how I would ever fill this guy’s shoes. Then one day I happened to meet him within the context of a business meeting. He was a fairly reserved person………very knowledgeable, succinct, right to the point. I spent a little time with him after the meeting. I made small talk, told him how things had changed since he had left, yada, yada, yada.
I left the company early in ’98, victim of a re-org/right-sizing. I had nearly killed myself with stress during those three years and had given up most of my interests outside of work. After that day I walked out, I vowed to spend more time riding and fishing with my children.
One Saturday morning shortly thereafter, my son and I pulled into the Whitecloud Trailhead. There was one other car there to which I paid little mind. As we were unloading our bikes, this man walked over and was asking if we had any oil. As I turned around I recognized him as HIM! I quickly said, “hey, I know you”! He was there all by himself……said his kids rode but he could not get them to accompany him that day. I said, “you should not ride by yourself……….why don’t you ride with us”? We became fast friends.
We went riding a lot but did not cover much ground as we usually had sons, wives, and daughters with us. It did not matter to us. As a result, we spent much time in the woods just talking, regrouping, and sharing life experiences. It was uncanny! “Remember the ’74 TM400”? “How about those all red ’75 CR’s”? “Tim, the red ones came out in ‘76”. “Oh, yeah”. “Man, I always wanted an Ossa” (he really did!). “Yeah, I used to ride a Montesa 250VE”. “That was a ’79, right”? “Yup”. I thought I knew and loved dirt bikes. He LOVED dirt bikes!
I left the company early in ’98, victim of a re-org/right-sizing. I had nearly killed myself with stress during those three years and had given up most of my interests outside of work. After that day I walked out, I vowed to spend more time riding and fishing with my children.
One Saturday morning shortly thereafter, my son and I pulled into the Whitecloud Trailhead. There was one other car there to which I paid little mind. As we were unloading our bikes, this man walked over and was asking if we had any oil. As I turned around I recognized him as HIM! I quickly said, “hey, I know you”! He was there all by himself……said his kids rode but he could not get them to accompany him that day. I said, “you should not ride by yourself……….why don’t you ride with us”? We became fast friends.
We went riding a lot but did not cover much ground as we usually had sons, wives, and daughters with us. It did not matter to us. As a result, we spent much time in the woods just talking, regrouping, and sharing life experiences. It was uncanny! “Remember the ’74 TM400”? “How about those all red ’75 CR’s”? “Tim, the red ones came out in ‘76”. “Oh, yeah”. “Man, I always wanted an Ossa” (he really did!). “Yeah, I used to ride a Montesa 250VE”. “That was a ’79, right”? “Yup”. I thought I knew and loved dirt bikes. He LOVED dirt bikes!