A Tale of Two Motorcycles

Motorcycles that pass at the intersection and speak each other in passing,

Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness;

So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another,

Only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.

               

                          - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It was the best of times to go out for a ride with the family,

it was the worst of times in that no one wore a helmet,

it was the age of wisdom in knowing you don’t need to wear a motorcycle helmet,

it was the age of foolishness in carrying your helmet on your arm instead,

it was the epoch of belief that you won’t crash and kill your family,

it was the epoch of incredulity that four people can safely fit on a motorcycle,

it was the season of Light so everyone can see how stupid both these families are,

it was the season of Darkness because everyone thinks this is normal and not dangerous,

it was the spring of hope that no crash would happen and God would protect them,

it was the winter of despair when they crashed and all their children’s heads split open like watermelons.

                                                                  - Charles Dickens