It's not what you think; I'm so fortunate to not be in that situation...
Overview: I have a cousin that's battling liver disease. He's been on and off the transplant list, ups and downs for 4+ years now, not knowing if he'll ever feel good again. Well, my cousin and his wife were sitting at the dinner table, explaining how they're expanding his options for a transplant. He's going on disability to allow for travel up and down the eastern seaboard, getting set up with various hospitals and on multiple lists awaiting donation.
During all of this talk, the wife chimes in and starts talking about motorcyclists as donors. She ends with a very giddy "We call them donorcycles!". My first instinct was to ask her if she realized she was sitting next to someone that rides, but I didn't say a word. I was in mixed company, it's Thanksgiving, so I didn't want to create drama, but watching her giggle about someone losing their life while riding made me wonder if she's humble at all about the sacrifice someone, potentially a motorcyclist, will make in the hopes of returning life to normal. I wondered if she'd be willing to face the family of a motorcyclist that lost his/her life and giggle about "donorcycles"? Her entire attitude about motorcyclists was so disrespectful, especially considering the side of the coin she and her family are on. I stayed silent, but honestly, wish now I'd brought up how insensitive she was, considering her family's future and happiness might depend upon a rider's death.
I've since rehashed her giggling and comments in my mind often, and considered writing her about it all. She's someone that's pretty arrogant to begin with, seems pretty self-centered and has created "family drama" in recent years, so I fear it'll just be a pointless battle. Truth is, IMHO, most that have that attitude about motorcyclists won't change their minds anyway.
I just hope she's the only one that thinks this way. I'm an organ donor, as many riders are by choice, but I sure would hate to think any sacrifice is giggled at by a donor family.
Overview: I have a cousin that's battling liver disease. He's been on and off the transplant list, ups and downs for 4+ years now, not knowing if he'll ever feel good again. Well, my cousin and his wife were sitting at the dinner table, explaining how they're expanding his options for a transplant. He's going on disability to allow for travel up and down the eastern seaboard, getting set up with various hospitals and on multiple lists awaiting donation.
During all of this talk, the wife chimes in and starts talking about motorcyclists as donors. She ends with a very giddy "We call them donorcycles!". My first instinct was to ask her if she realized she was sitting next to someone that rides, but I didn't say a word. I was in mixed company, it's Thanksgiving, so I didn't want to create drama, but watching her giggle about someone losing their life while riding made me wonder if she's humble at all about the sacrifice someone, potentially a motorcyclist, will make in the hopes of returning life to normal. I wondered if she'd be willing to face the family of a motorcyclist that lost his/her life and giggle about "donorcycles"? Her entire attitude about motorcyclists was so disrespectful, especially considering the side of the coin she and her family are on. I stayed silent, but honestly, wish now I'd brought up how insensitive she was, considering her family's future and happiness might depend upon a rider's death.
I've since rehashed her giggling and comments in my mind often, and considered writing her about it all. She's someone that's pretty arrogant to begin with, seems pretty self-centered and has created "family drama" in recent years, so I fear it'll just be a pointless battle. Truth is, IMHO, most that have that attitude about motorcyclists won't change their minds anyway.
I just hope she's the only one that thinks this way. I'm an organ donor, as many riders are by choice, but I sure would hate to think any sacrifice is giggled at by a donor family.
lease:
