Life's Lessons

Ode to Horace and Daniel - and Rusty, Brad, and Reggie Reunion with an old and valued friend. by Buster Moldenhauer - Apr 19, 2022 A poet I ain’t. I do have a fairly decent vocabulary, though, and I've been told that I have a way with words. Let’s see if I can do justice to this important (in my humble opinion) subject. Several years ago I stumbled into what once was a mere acquaintanceship with some guys but has since become a deep friendship and a very important part of my life. Our relationship is based on several factors we have in common, one of which is an affinity for firearms. It’s the most common of the threads that run through our varied psyches and each of us pursues this hobby with vigor. It’s no surprise, then, that a handgun is at the center of this story even though it is not its most important facet. About seven years ago I was invited to join these guys at their regular Thursday morning session of shooting, laughing, and prevarication. There was lots of gunsmoke, l...

Thank You! ... by Buster Moldenhauer Introduction: I wrote this letter shortly after a motorcycle fundraising event in 2000. The details are, perhaps, less important than the feeling of purpose and accomplishment we can obtain when we go about doing God's work and surrounding ourselves with like-minded people.  October 9, 2000 Dear Friend; Last Saturday, at the start of the Blue Ridge 500 motorcycle touring event, I turned in your contribution to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States and more dollars from my other friends and my own monetary contribution. Together we have made a difference! With your help, I captured the title of “Top Fundraiser” in this year’s event. I have attained this honor in each of the past four years and it is an achievement of which I am very proud. The event raised more than $34,000 this year, a 54% increase over last year’s total! Thanks again for your help! More than the personal pride I can take in raising a lot of money for the fig...

I Came Back for Cookies by Buster Moldenhauer A while back some buddies and I rode up to Chicago to visit a kid who’s in a battle for her life against brain tumors. It was just after Christmas and we simply wanted to bring this little girl a teddy bear and wish her well in her struggles, but she crept into my heart and I just can’t seem to shake her loose.  Even before we met, Melanie baked some cookies for me to take along on the long ride home; a gesture to a stranger that became more valuable to me than gold. During our short visit with little Melanie, we also had a chance to get to know her parents and sister; Loretta, Steve, and Larissa. Melanie’s disease has touched her family in many ways - both dreadful and wonderful - but there’s more love there among those folks than I’ve seen an any family anywhere and the little angel in the middle of this scene generates it in abundance from everyone whose heart she touches.  We might think Melanie’s family is cursed to have to de...

 Riding With Angels Reflections on the 2000 Blue Ridge 500 ……..By Buster Moldenhauer Forecasts for ride day were not so good but when the sun rises, clear skies take control and cool but pleasant temperatures are the order of the day. Carving up those wonderful and familiar Southern Appalachian roads is a special experience today because of the accompaniment of fifty riders who have gathered to enjoy the scenery and join our fight against childhood brain cancer. This is the day of the Blue Ridge 500, a day at the end of six months of painstaking planning, a day to enjoy motorcycle riding and the warm feelings associated with the purpose of this great event. As the miles of dry, cool asphalt slip beneath the wheels, my mind wanders in those seconds when it isn’t occupied with maintaining the proper line through the curves; wanders to thoughts of the kids I’ve met over the years and to the parents of the kids who are no longer with us. I see the faces of these Angels – I see their ...

  This Ride’s for Kiley When I first heard about the “Blue Ridge 500” I had no idea I would become a participant.  Organizers of the event are members of the BMW Motorcycle Riders of Georgia (BMWOGA), a club devoted to the safe enjoyment of BMW motorcycles. Yep, BMW does make motorcycles!  I bought my first motorcycle in February of this year and I had to ask a friend to ride it home from the north side of town because I hadn’t yet learned to ride.  Although I put on quite a few miles riding motorcycles this summer, I didn’t believe I had enough experience to participate in the Blue Ride 500 but I wanted to help with organizing and support of the event because I felt its charitable aspects are important. The Blue Ridge 500 is a self-guided tour along almost 500 miles of the most beautiful mountain roads in North Georgia and Western North Carolina.  There are rules designed to ensure the safe operation of the motorcycles, and timing constraints to test the skills...