In The Wind I'm alive

Philip MacKinnon

Recovering myself quickly and reminding myself that I had ridden a motorcycle before I looked in front of, to see the open road waiting. Although I had ridden with my dad before it had never felt like that before. The wind hitting my face was sharper, the sounds of the engine more clear then before, and the landscape around me blurring more then ever.

Suddenly I knew for the first time what it must feel like to fly; I felt free for the first time. The wind was life some kind of drug and when it hit my face, it entered my blood and I became instantly addicted. The sound of the engine almost blew my eardrums, and at the same time I craved for the noise and wanted it louder.

On the back of an old Harley Davidson motorcycle I found peace during a troubling time in my life. My parents impending separation, and my problems at school didn't seem to matter as long as the wind was hitting my face and the sun was shining down on me.

In the years since I first felt the freedom that bike had to offer I have continued to pursue my interest in motorcycling. I ride with my father still, and am in the process of getting my M class licence, and looking into purchasing a used motorcycle. I am an active member of the Sarnia Bluewater H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group).

I still feel free when the wind hits my face, but I have found freedom in many other places as well. The way a car engine opens up on a long stretch of highway, watching the sun dawn on a new day or set on an old one, these things offer a feeling of freedom not unlike my dad's motorcycle did and still does.

Personal freedom is something that everyone can find if they look for it in the right places. The wind is a personal source of freedom for me, for some people it can be found in a sunset or the beauty of nature. I recomend finding a personal source of freedom in your life, it can offer a wonderful sense of self and escape from everyday life.