After a few days back from my trip, it had become evident that the new Mike
in Christ and the old Mike in Jersey would not mix well. My heart was somewhere
else, as was my only Christian friend, and some decisions would have to be
made. I wanted out, and only my job, no money, and selling my van were the only
obstacles. But as I wanted more Jesus, the world wanted more of me too. John
had planned a Welcome Home party for us at his parent’s house. His dad was a
special products manager at Bell Labs, and they had gone away for a month,
leaving John in charge. They lived in a private town outside of West Caldwell,
home of Tony Soprano. It was down a long drive through the woods, about a 1/4
mile, then opened up to a big house, which reminded me of Mt. Vernon. It took
longer to walk through than driving across Texas. It had a huge brick patio,
then another terraced level with a huge pool, then another lower level with a
pond, with a dock and fishing boats. I was busy trying to take this all in,
looking for a place to park among all the high end sports cars, when John came
out, with a group of girls. Wearing one piece bikinis, without the upper part,
they all ran up and embraced me, and I was overwhelmed. And they all wanted to
meet me, and so we all jumped into the pool-there were even more in the house,
such dreams of a mortal man, and a dream only months before-now it was somehow
not as attractive, but I was still attracted. One girl, Debbie, her dad made TV
commercials, and I became good friends, until her best friend, Tracy, who was in
Gallery, March, 1975 wanted me, and they fought over me. And I lost interest in
both. I had also reconnected with my old girlfriend Paula, who now was in love
with the new Mike...where were all these pretty women when I was looking? I
would see her one last time in Florida on my trip, then come close to marrying
her two years later. But my heart had changed, and was changing. What was
going on inside of me? What it was was Jesus.
Work was also different, as I had changed. My boss Walter Illick had once
laid me off, and then 30 minutes later, on bended knee apologized and hired me
back. But this time I was glad to be laid off, and thanked him, he knew I
wanted out, and wished me well. I later would go to his mother’s funeral,
surprising him, and blessing him by showing love. I had changed. So I had one
problem down, and two to go. Meanwhile, I partied harder than ever before.
John and I spent much time together before he cut off his pony tail and went to
work for GM. With no income, friends rejecting me since becoming Born Again,
and my parents waiting for this California thing to wear off, I still needed to
sell my van. John in Cali called everyday on his WATS line, and when I told him
of my situation, he asked if I had prayed about it, and was surprised when I
told him I didn’t know you could. So we did, and later telling my mother, she
said it was sacreligious, but things started to happen. The next day I read an
add saying this dealer bought cars, so called, and then went down. I was
greeted by Bouke’s brother Dickie, whose girlfriend’s father owned the
dealership. The same Dickie who had robbed my apartment and gone into hiding
since I had put Por Favor on his trail, and how he didn’t mess himself I’ll
never know. Going overboard to call off Por Favor, I walked out with more money
than I had paid for the van, and the free offer of a loaner car, which I
declined. When I walked in the house, hands raised in praise, my parents got
more suspicious. I was praising God. Now all I had to do was service the R90S,
and take off for California. I was so close, yet so far...I just didn’t know
it, yet.
I had taken my bike up to Phil, a good friend and superior BMW mechanic in
Ridgefield, Connecticut, some 90 miles away, and Geno had ridden me back. John
and I talked everyday, and then he dropped the bomb-he was being transferred to
Albuquerque in two weeks, about the same time I was planning on leaving. What
was gong on God, everything had been working out? But I was to discover, two
years later, why, when I met the woman of my dreams. So California was off,
Albuquerque was on, and I wondered if I would have to brush up on my Spanish.
Did they speak English in New Mexico? I didn’t know or had never met anyone
from there? And was this where God was leading me? Yet with so much to do, and
so much partying interfering, two weeks seemed like forever, until it got there
too soon. I had made it a habit to read a book of the Bible every night, no
matter how wasted I was, thinking it would atone for my sin, not realizing Jesus
already had, and my lifestyle was taking a toll on me. You cannot serve two
Gods, and I wanted Jesus, but bad company was still corrupting my newfound good
morals. Something was to give, and I was leaving my wicked past for a new
future. But one last party was to be attended, mine.
And what a time was had. the alcohol flowed that night, and people showed
up to see me off, some I hadn’t seen in years, the common good bye was “you’ll
be back,” as it seemed no one escaped the lure of Jersey. Wasn’t it the same
everywhere? But I knew different, and wouldn’t be back. Just as a
confirmation, when going to Scotchwood Liquors for more beer, and to say good
bye to Herm, you know you are in trouble when you say good bye to the liquor
store owner, a man pulled a gun on Nicky and I-and we split. Never did say
goodbye to Herm-I had had enough. And although the party went into the wee
hours, I was packed, ready, and anxious when Geno came to get me at 8 am the
next morning. I would finally be leaving Jersey on my motorcycle, but not on my
BMW, as Geno would ride me to Phil’s to pick it up. It was a sunny, cold and
clear, 30 degree, November morning, but I couldn’t feel the cold. I was numb
with excitement for my trip and what lied ahead.
I rode with Geno down the Parkway, before he cut off for home, gave me a
wave of good luck, and I continued on. Washington, DC was my destination for
the night, and was still 250 miles away. With Jersey November cold, I rode on,
at 55mph, with cops behind each tree. I was on my way, riding alone, but was
never lonely. I had left friends, family, work, and my past behind. I was
truly a new creature in Christ, and my next test would come that night in the
Nation’s Capitol. Where an overnight stay turned into a week long party...and
less.
to be continued.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com