GT-15

December 15, 1999

Well, it’s about time I get to this! A LOT has happened since the last edition! Ah, where to start? I guess one of the first things which transpired was the annual MMA Lacey Packer Run. This is their official Toys for Tots run, named after Lacey, who was six when she was killed by a drunk driver WHILE on her dad’s bike on this toy run!

The Marines were there as usual as the bikers managed to clog up the rotary behind Whalom Park in Lunenburg, Massachusetts.

Bikes also lined the shore of Whalom Lake

as many of our two-wheeled FAMILY showed up to make some kids’ Christmas a little brighter

R.G. Scooters, up until my out-of-state move, my favorite hang-out, saw a lot of welcome biker traffic. If you’re ever riding by that way, stop in and say Grumpy sent ‘ya. They should remember me!

THE MOVE!

I finally made it out of Massafuckingchusetts! If you’ve been following my trials and tribulations in my family newsletters, you know by now that I was finally successful in purchasing a small house with a couple of acres in Masonville, New York. Look at all the room I’ve got here!

My pasture behind the house and my barns (yeah, they can hold a couple of scoots) seem ideal for a couple of bros to pitch their tents when they come to visit! I expect to see some of you this spring and summer!

NEW POETS!

Your Membership Secretary has been busy digging up prospects. The first one to whom I want to introduce you is Tattoo! He has been prospecting for well over three months and has already fulfilled all the requirements. Active Members can expect a ballot from me right after New Year’s. In it I will tell you of some of his accomplishments. This is Tattoo and his wife Brenda. She also rides.

Our prospect Tattoo, whose real name is Brad Koehler, wrote and presented the eulogy at his biker friend Lumpy’s funeral in Illinois. Here you see his quite distinct grave site:

On the back of Lumpy’s memorial is a poetic tribute by Tattoo. Talk about staying "published" for eternity!

Our other prospect came aboard just before press time! He is no stranger to being published. You probably have read some of his work. He has on again - off again columns in Motorcycle Tour & Cruiser (Border Line) and American Iron (Rumblings) magazines. Is name is Kevin Redding and he hails from Massachusetts, the place I’m sooo glad to have just left! He prefers to be known as simply Kevin. Just Kevin! NOT "Simply Kevin" or "Simple Kevin" or "Just Kevin," yeah, Kevin - we get it!

He has also published great fiction in Biker as well as Outlaw Biker.

HIGHWAY POET

I'm just a highway poet,

two-wheeling it on the run.

Embracing life to its fullest,

enjoying myself, having fun.

Landscapes my eyes partake,

filling my soul to its brim.

Aromatic breezes caress me,

totally consuming life and limb.

I take pride in being a biker,

society will never comprehend.

The road is my only master,

a motorcycle, my best friend.

Experiencing life in the wind,

is the path that I have chose.

For them, who only dream of it,

I relate it through my prose.

Aging is a way of teaching us,

about taking things in stride.

It seems the older I become,

the more I appreciate the ride.

There'll come a day, faraway,

saddle time will forever cease.

My poetry then, I shall read,

to give my mind some peace.

There's so many roads ahead,

and while my candle is still lit.

This circumstance I must fulfill,

because I am a Highway Poet.

- Tattoo

Sir George is finally a Daddy!

Sir George proudly holds his first child,Chistine Grace Threshman, born 11/9/99 at Hackensack Hospital in New Jersey. Congrats (or is that, rugrats?), old boy! Let's see, George is 55 and when Christine becomes a 17-year old teenager, demanding her independence, he'll be 72! Good Luck, George, and welcome to the Daddy Club!

Eh, crappy picture, right? All Sir George sent me was a sheet of Xerox copied photographs.

Merry Christmas and related sentiments of the season!

Yeah, this is close enough. When I got this flyer in the mails, I couldn’t resist appropriating it. It looks enough like me that I should be getting royalties! I guess it’s too late to do your Christmas shopping. But if you’ve forgotten someone, or got them the wrong thing, it’s never too late to go to my "store" and buy them something. Click:Grumpy's Cyber-store It took a while, but I’m finally starting to make some sales! If you have any interest in "running" a cyber store and have your computer generate you a second income, check this out: Clone ME?

Keep the shiny side up!

-Grumpy