If this post has anything to do with learning new tricks, it would only be in relation to a decision my father made back in the 1970s that was maybe a harbinger of how fathers would begin to change their attitudes toward their daughters; they would be the old dogs learning new tricks.
When I was 15 years old, I fell in love with motorcycles. There was nothing I wanted more than to have my own bike. This was back in 1976, when a learner's permit was all anyone in Florida needed to ride a motorcycle. Since I had mine, nothing would keep me from riding, except of course my parents not allowing me to buy a motorcycle.
My mother was a stay-at-home mom, and I pretty much went to her to ask for anything I wanted. Part of that was due to the fact that she was always around; the other part was due to the fact that she said "yes" way more than my father did. When I found out one of my friend's cousins was selling his Kawasaki 100, I saw my opportunity to become a motorcycle owner. I went straight to my mom to ask her if I could buy the bike. Without hesitation, she said, "Go ask your father." Big sigh ... To me, that was the same thing as her saying, "When hell freezes over!"
Still, I really wanted that motorcycle, so I approached my father and asked him if I could buy the bike. He thought a moment, and then came back with, "Give me a few days to think about it." That response caught me completely off guard as I was expecting a resounding, "Not in this lifetime!" The answer wasn't "yes," but it wasn't "no" either, so I held out some hope. Not much, but some.
The few days passed, and my father told me he'd made his decision. Here is how he framed his answer to me: "If you were my son, I would allow you to buy the motorcycle. The fact that you are my daughter is not a reason to say 'no,' so yes, you can buy the motorcycle."
Holy crap, was I one happy adolescent! I bought my motorcycle and spent many enjoyable hours riding it, including to school every day with a group of other kids who had bikes. Of course, I was the only girl who rode a motorcycle to my high school, and I have to admit, I enjoyed that notoriety.
I started spending time at a local shop that sold motorcycle accessories, and the guy who ran the shop introduced me to flat track racing and then road racing. I would go along to the races with him (just to spectate, not participate), and man, did I ever love being at the track. Still do. And guess who I met for the first time at the track? Yep--you guessed it: Mr. Weezy! He raced flat track back in the day, and I must say he was quite the bad ass. He was fearless on the track.
I am forever grateful to my father for making a decision that allowed me to pursue what has been a lifelong love of motorcycles. But more than than, I am grateful for the incredible lesson he taught me when he explained why he was allowing me to buy my motorcycle: Gender should never be an obstacle that prevents you from doing what you want to do.
Thanks, Dad. Miss you.
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