Chick? Who The Fuck is Chick?

I’ve been baring my soul and letting you know what has brought me to this next chapter of my life journey. It’s time to let you know what this next chapter is all about for me.

Born to Be Wild: Credit to Steppenwolf

Get your motor runnin’

Head out on the highway

Looking for adventure

In whatever comes our way

Yeah, darlin’ gonna make it happen

Take the world in a love embrace

Fire all your guns at once

And explode into space

Like a true nature’s child

We were born, born to be wild

We can climb so high

I never wanna die

Just as I was starting to write, this song started playing.  As I sung along with the music, I realized that this song is not just about heading out on the highway on the motorcycle, it is also the epitome of who I am and why I am signing up for Chick and Alice with my entire being…heart and soul.

I truly believe I was “Born to Be Wild” and according to my mom, I’ve been fiercely exploring my world and eager to participate since I was a toddler.  At 5 years old I was seriously put out with my mother about the fact that I missed several days of school due to a cross-country move. It became her first priority for me as soon as she could while settling in with me and my brothers (3 years old, and infant).  I think it was pure survival at that point to get me back into school and out of her hair.

This has been a theme for me throughout my life.  I didn’t always make the best decisions when I went after life (with a B+/A- average in 11th grade, deliberately failed chemistry because I didn’t like the substitute teacher for the last half of the year; pregnant at 16; from rarely drinking to drinking every day within weeks and once in peak form, drinking a Fifth of Bacardi daily).  However, I got sober in my early-mid 20’s and grew up a little bit.  My chasing life decision making ability improved greatly (got my boys back; 41 years living with the love of my life; a successful career that I enjoyed greatly; many friends and connections along the way; somewhat decent financial security for retirement…more or less; and of course, motorcycling).  So, by some standards one would think I’ve lived a successful, fulfilling life…Yes, I have and I’m extremely grateful to those that believed in me and took a chance on me….Priceless and too long of a list for this blog.  Many of you know who you are, friends - even acquaintances, husbands, bosses and other business professionals, etc.

At 68, my life has changed forever.  I lost my first-born son to alcoholism last December, my husband is now in Memory Care with Alzheimer’s.  The one-level townhome we bought three years ago to live out our years together in, no longer has any meaning for me, it is simply a very nice place to live for now.  Not a part of my future anymore. My other son is making a very successful bid to follow his own dreams 150 miles north of me.  We keep in touch via text and phone, mostly.  My grandson is living in a safe place and loves his job with children. My mom is still alive (so grateful to have her still at my age) and supportive of me following my long-held dream of riding out of town on my motorcycle and drive the U.S. until I’m ready to come home and my passion to share my life’s journey with others, hopefully giving them the hope and some tools to shape their lives and find the accountability and love for themselves to start their own healing journey.

I tell you all this to help you understand why I’ve invested not only my heart and soul into Clearview Works and the Chick and Alice Freedom Ride, but why I am walking away (with love and precious memories) from the life I’ve been living but no longer really exists for me anymore. I don’t know how many years I have left, but it doesn’t really matter.  This is unfinished business for me and I’m going to walk it proudly, sure of who I am and excited about the opportunity to walk down this next path.

I hope you choose to follow our progress on this journey.  It could be a wild one.

Love and Peace

Chick