We Will Never Forget You Jezreel

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One of the pleasures of my life is meeting amazing people, learning their stories and overall look on life.

Many of those amazing people have been people with disabilities. Maybe it’s because they have to work around their “challenge” (to use the PC term). I don’t know…I just know that they all seem to be brighter to me than most people.

Friday, we lost a shining star…Jezreel Herr.

She was nine years old, but her outlook, wisdom, and compassion was well past her years. I had the luxury of meeting her three years ago at a special VIP night at MDA Camp where – as part of the MDA Live Ride Committee – we had dinner, received a tour, and took part in a couple of events with the children.

Our tour guide that evening was Jezreel, and it was incredible to have to keep up with this feisty young lady! Many people think that a wheelchair is a hindrance….I know better! On wooden paths, gravel, and dirt we (Sirock and I) had to stride to keep up with her.

The final evening’s event was to launch balloons with wishes. Jezreel’s wish? Not to walk, or run…but to live long enough to become a doctor and find a cure so others will never suffer.

In the coming years we (Sirock, Minx and I) got to know her better and her compassion, lust for life, and charm (Minx will tell you she was a fantastic flirt for her age) shone…no…blazed through.

One of the things that Jezreel taught me was that as long as you were alive, everything else (not being able to walk, financial troubles, etc.) were just minor inconveniences to be accepted on life’s journey. She never let her illness stop her from being a frolicking child – always underfoot with her playing.

Jezreel was always a welcome sight and touched so many lives and will continue to be one of the many reasons that we need to find a cure for this terrible disease.

We will never forget you Jez.

View the photos from the slideshow here. KTUU also ran a story which can be watched and read here: http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=7089519

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September 17, 2007 · Filed Under General

3 Comments

Am I Seeing The NEXT Generation Of Bikers?!?

I don’t know if it’s happening to anyone outside of Alaska, but of late I’ve had lots of younger adults and teens giving me the “hang loose” sign when I ride by them.

It’s been interesting to see people give the sign when I pass them (or pass by them) on the road or when I go to a store, work, etc.

In reflecting with friends on this I’ve come to my own conclusion (for example, Minx says I just look so good on my bike that I have “insta-fans” when I ride by ) that the movie Wild Hogs has created a new generation of potential bikers or at least people who are affectionate about the lifestyle.

For myself, it was “Angels Hard as they Come” starring Gary Busey and Scott Glenn (it’s also what made me a Scott Glenn fan). It made me want to watch other movies like “Easy Rider,” “Girl on a Motorcycle” (OK…maybe I watched that one for the girl in the tight leather jumpsuit…maybe ) and so on, building my affinity to bikers and the biker lifestyle.

Those movies made me realize that there was something about the “freedom” of riding – the ability to become one with a machine that lets you fly at ground level.

Oh…did I mention you get to wear leather jackets and have a beard (you have to remember…when I was a child, that was the sure sign of a bum according to my parents)?

Regardless, it is a good thing to know that there are younger people with some affinity to bikers in a positive way.

Then again it might be young people who, after seeing a movie, mention to their families that a motorcycle could be in their future and after lots of heated discussion see a biker rolling down the road and give a sign of solidarity.

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