Back in the early 70s, I was stationed in Naples, Italy while serving in the U.S. Navy. I was there for just over three years. I hated and loved my time there all at once. One thing I did, while I was there, was to buy a Triumph 650cc motorcycle. The day I bought that thing (and had to take it through customs on the base...never did understand that) I was as happy as I could be. Myself and two other guys rode all over Europe back in the day. We rode to Munich, Germany to Bern, Switzerland to Pisa, Italy. Those were some fun and high, high days of my youth. I'll never forget it as long as I live. I loved that Triumph of mine.

When my time was up in the Navy, I shipped my motorcycle back home. There I continued to ride it for another eight years. Unfortunately, due to some financial difficulties back in 1982, I had to sell that beautiful bike. It was so very hard to do. Since that time I often wondered what happened to it. Last Saturday, I got my answer. I noticed a man on a familiar looking motorcycle at a McDonald's that I frequent in the mornings for my coffee. I asked him his name and, lo and behold, it was the guy I sold my Triumph 650 to back in 1982. He said, "Here she is, just good as new and running like a charm." I felt a lump in my throat, I could hardly speak. He had taken very good care of that bike of mine. It was hard to believe that bike was still running twenty-eight years after I sold it. I told him I was gratified that the bike was still running and that he enjoyed it.

Yeah, it hurts that I no longer own it. I didn't bother asking him if he wanted to sell it back. I could tell he loved that old Triumph 650 much in the same way I did...and the same way I guess I still do. It brought back great memories. Memories I will always have despite not having that old Triumph 650 any longer.