GMB: From the Outside Looking In...

[DsBabyDoll]

Let me begin by saying, I planned on being completely AFTR on this trip (along for the ride). I planned on being the 3rd wheel, odd man out, the person with nothing in common with anyone else off in the shadows. I came secretly armed with enough work to keep me busy in the hotel room all day Saturday and Sunday (it never left the truck!). My bosses thought it was hilarious that the only time I took off in 3 years for “vacation” was to keep my husband company on a long drive there & back. Combined with the fact that my son had informed me that in new situations, he considered me a major wallflower, I wasn’t really looking forward to the weekend very much with a bunch of strangers.

Well…I was in for a very pleasant surprise. From the time I first met Boyd at midnight at our first overnight stop, to the time we waved goodbye to him & Karen on Tuesday outside of Tucson, I had a really great and inspiring time with all of you.

The Berg’s were the most gracious hosts Friday night and to put faces with names (screen names actually) was a kick. Meeting Garrett’s grandparents, Katherine & Bud was awesome. I had the most fun with Katherine; she is to me what I envision the typical southern lady to be, sweet, but with a lot of spice. It was nice to meet Gwen, Macho’s mom too. The way she was there for him and the way she treated him was an example that you are never too old to need your mommy. Meeting Karen, Boyd’s wife was an awful lot of fun. It was fun to compare notes and share laughs with her and I plan on many more in the future.

Meeting Suzette & Mike was very special. I have the utmost respect for them and as I told Suzette, I don’t know if I could put myself in their position every year doing what they do with this weekend. I would want to put it behind me and remember things privately. After overhearing many people (mostly men) talk about the influence that Mike has had on them with their relationships with their sons, it caused me to reflect back to a time in my life where I had to stop & re-evaluate things. I almost lost DBK when he was 5 months old and at that time, I completely changed my way of thinking about life, family, career, etc and re-focused on the things that were really important. I think sometimes as time goes on, a little of that focus slips away. This weekend and a very long ride home definitely gave me pause to reflect and appreciate all that we sometimes take for granted. Enough of the mushy stuff.

You are all fantastic people and it was amazing to see how for 3 days you all came together to form one fantastic family reunion. To watch you all pitch in and help each other and treat even first timers like they had always been there was very cool to watch.

To see how all the Texas “kids” treated the adults was very eye-opening-we were definitely NOT in L.A.! I have never heard so many “yes sirs” in my life as I heard this past weekend.

Last but not at all the least, a very very special thank you to Casey for being the inspiration that he has now become to DBK. You put a lot of fears to rest in all of us and for that I thank you more than you know.

Thank you all and see you next time!!

[char393]

Deb,

I'm glad you made the trip even though you weren't looking forward to it much. It was very nice to meet the woman that has to put up with Dane on a regular basis. Jack is a great kid and you should be proud.

I love to read what everyone takes home from GMB. I don't think anyone attends a GMB event without being affected.

See you next year!

[crfjedi393]

Great post Debbie. It's great to read what went on inside of each of us over this inspiring weekend. I totally agree with you about respecting the Berg's. I think I would be more inclined to put it in the past and hold onto those special moments privately just as you mentioned. But their incredible character shows through each and every time I see them in person. Mr. Berg has changed the way I view life and death. Something he said in the rider's meeting really impressed me. We often continue to learn from those we've lost even after they are gone. The Berg's decision to experience this pain every October has allowed a great number of families to learn from it and grow into bigger, better people. Our time here is short. Garrett and his parents are teaching us to make the most of it.

[Gwyn Hobby]

MachoMom here - like Char I love to read the posts about how this past weekend impacted our lives, myself included. For the past 4 years I have been giving Mark a pretty hard time about coming to the race alone. I felt like he needed a family member with him in case he got hurt. This past weekend I found out I was wrong and he was right - he has a family already at the track. The way all of the guys came to him and helped him (and me) get him to the hospital, the prayer that was said before we left and all the help on Sunday - if I never get to come back with him - I will know he will be safe with the Band of Brothers. On another note - for the last several, and I do mean seveal years, Mark and I have not been as close as we once had been - I think this weekend put our relationship back on course - we spent lots of time in the truck going to Texas and coming home and we talked a lot. On the way home, Mark said it had been a long time since we spent some time, just me and him (we used to do it a lot) and it had been a good time. Even with him getting hurt, it was a good weekend and I had a great time. When I lived in California and was trying to decide to move back to Arkansas or not, Mark told me I needed to come back to Arkansas, we had lots of memories when he was little but we needed to make some memories now. We did that this last weekend. Thank you all so much for letting me see the love you have for my son - and each other. You are all truly a special group. Stay Safe!

[MrsTwister393]

Thanks Debbie for taking the time to share, I agree its great to hear what others get from it.

Wow, Gwyn I'm speechless....


I'm so proud to be a part of this wonderful family!!

[Imahoot393]

Wow Debs. I am glad that you came home with such an eye opeing experience. It is an amazing crowd of people and it was fun having your whole family there to enjoy it. It is not just about riding, it is about family, riding, and valuable lessons to learn in our own lives. The Berg's are amazing people as you have said and they deserve so much for helping all of us in the way they impact our lives everyday. Glad you were there to witness it and I hope you come back next year too.

Gwynn- It was so nice to meet you finally. We have pmed several times and received some of your awesome Chrsitmas cookies last year. You have an amazing man that you have raised in Macho and Brian. I can only imagine what your other children are like. I am so glad that you were there for Macho at the motel, on the drive home, and at the hospital. I am sure he appreciates having you there. I do hope that we are able to see you again real soon.

[Dirtbikindad393]

Gwyn,

I am so glad to have met you and see Macho again. I am very happy to hear you enjoyed your alone time with Mark he is a very special giving person. I really hope that your ride home was not full of pain and that you heal up real soon Mark.

I am glad that my lovely wife and wonderful son were able to come along and experience this family get together just once. They now know what happened to me last year. My time with Boyd and Karen and all the rest of you was too short.

More to come from me later still putting my thoughts together.

[Dirtbikindad393]

Oh and by the way honey nice post!

[zoohoot393]

Awesome post Deb. It definitely provided a very cool perspective. I am so glad that the entire DBD family was able to make it, and I am sure you are looking forward to next year like the rest of us

[Satch0922]

Excellent post Debbie. The "kids" in Texas are not all polite.....just our awesome group of kids (it's the fear of getting the dirt bike taken away that elicit's all the "yes sir" s LOL)

[DsBabyDoll]

Dane...well...just read my mind I guess. This past week will help us keep it all in perspective.

[Motodad393]

Debbie,
I read your post yesterday a couple of times and then again today. Thanks so much for the kind comments about your experiences and the people. Both Suzette and I enjoyed meeting the wives too. This is the first time that I have seen Suzette "really enjoy herself" at this event. This does not mean that she has not had some fun and pleasant experiences in the past BUT it does mean she enjoyed this one! Her pain was less visible this year than in years past. Watching her with you all on Friday night in the driveway warmed my heart - heck it was like a group of ole hens in the barn yard. Just Kidding!

One thing I keep thinking about was your comment about "keeping it quiet" had you been in our [my shoes]. I have reflected on this and for me, if I had the capability to keep all my feelings inside and not openly shared them - I honestly believe it would have destroyed me. I came damn close to "loosing it" as it was for about 15 months. I have learned that men and women grieve differently and that is OK for there is no right, or wrong way as long as a person finds away to deal with the pressure, pain and reality associated with a loss of this magnitude.

I appreciate your honesty and open comments throughout the weekend. I am very grateful that I finally met the whole family and got to know the woman beside the man known as "DirtBikinDad!" Just like me, Dane married way out of his league!

[DsBabyDoll]

Wow Mike...I have so much in my head after reading what you said. I am sitting here with a client in front of me & while he is talking away you made me get all weepy & emotional. Thank goodness you put in that really funny part about us "ole hens"! Cheered me RIGHT up and made me laugh!!!!

You know, I could tell from the moment I met you what kind of sharing and emotional person you are. After more reflection, you remind me of a very spiritual person I once knew. He had the ability to look at or live a situation, no matter how good or bad, analyze it and figure a way that whatever it was, could be a lesson to not only him, but something he could impart on others in times that they might need a little outside "help". That is a rare traight in human beings I think. To be thought provoking but not preaching, to have the most appropriate thing come out of your mouth right from the heart is a quality that most cannot even fathom.

Hard to believe this but after talking with Suzette for 15 minutes, I felt an instant connection with her and it was as if I had known her for so very long. Maybe that is because I had knowledge of the history and the reasons for this special weekend. Maybe because I already knew the kind of person Garrett was just by following the last few years in this forum. I do agree with you that men & women experience the things we go through differently with different actions & reactions. That is why I am usually the one holding the kleenex for Dane I think (which is a good thing).

You made a tremendous impression on Jack too. He was worried that I was letting him be taken care of by "strangers" I had never met before. He has talked about that short afternoon he spent with you, John & Boyd many many times already and is so looking forward to coming next year.

We truly are looking forward to next year or maybe a time in between. One thing though? Can Texas be moved closer to California?