| Author | Message | ||
     Ulywife |
This story is too important to get archived. This is a story of how out of the pain of Big Jim's death in 2002, Jb2 found a new friend that has become an important part of his family. Many of us have been lucky enough to be a part of the Franklin ride that takes place each year during Memorial Day Weekend. Like BadWeB, Mike and Sue Breedlove and those who participate in the Franklin Ride have become part of an extended family. | ||
| Jb2 |
Big Jim's Ride was born of Dad's passing in Franklin, NC on May 25th, 2002. About 4:30 pm on that day a kid turned in front of him at Lost Bridge, 10 miles outside of Franklin on RT28. His death was instant but the hollow spot will live forever in many hearts. The very first "Big Jim's Ride" was when I followed the ambulance back to the hospital in town, dreading the phone call to Mom and family, alone in a place where I knew no one except the motel manager.  | ||
| Jb2 |
At about 6:00 pm that evening I was in the Chapel of the hospital after calling Mom. She was coming a part at the seams. I had a hard time not hopping on the bike and riding over to Columbus to be with her. However the State Police were to bring the report and the signed papers to move his body for burial. I had already been called in to make the positive I.D. To tell you the truth I had went mechanical inside, like a machine going through pre-programmed procedures with complete strangers. One of the nurses I had been dealing with came to the door and said there was a gentleman who wanted to speak to me and would I care to meet him. I said yes thinking maybe it was another witness or one of the rescue workers. Instead the person was a huge man who filled the doorway when he stepped into the room. He stuck his hand out for a shake and gripped my hand the way a long lost friend would and said, " I know you don't know me but I am your brother. My name is Mike Breedlove and I came upon your Daddy's wreck while out riding this afternoon. I just want you to know if there's anything I can do for you my wife, Sue and I, are here for you." He then asked where I was staying. He lived just a few blocks from the Franklin Motel as it turned out. I told him to look for my bike and it was okay if he stopped by because I had to hang there until all the paperwork was done. Twice before the State Police arrived Mike came to the motel and said I was to come to their place as soon as business was done cause Sue was holding supper 'til then. Finally the paperwork was done along with repeated calls to Mom and Kim(who were taking it the hardest) so I headed down to Mike and Sue's. They were waiting on me as promised. We sat down and broke bread and became family... real family. We traded motorcycle stories into the wee hours of the morning and I introduced them to Dad through those stories. During the evening they allowed me to use their computer and I posted a thread(Bad Day of Riding) on BadWeb. We checked the responses the next morning and Mikey asked, "Who are these people?" I told him they were fellow Buell enthusiasts from all over the world and we were all friends. We helped each other out with Buell repairs, travelling and just about anything friends of a feather would do. "Damn, I need to meet these people!" he said. I told him that they were a lot like him and some day he would get to meet them.  The next day Mike and Sue jumped through hoops to contact the owner of the wrecker service who towed the bike. He knew Mikey and met us there on a Sunday morning so I could retrieve Dad's belongings. They loaded all of his gear into their PT Cruiser and then hauled it to Columbus. They met Mom and we gave them a tour of Dad's garage. He just kept saying over and over, "I would have really liked your dad." Mike, Dad would have really loved you too. The day of the funeral Mike was there. By the time the kid's trial went to court I had burned all of my time off. Mike Breedlove took everyone of those days off work and escorted Mom to court. As the days turned to weeks and to months it was nearing May again. He and I had talked of doing a ride and there were a lot of folks who wanted a roadside marker erected. We had a granite cross made but Mike was concerned that it would be vandalized so we chose a wooden replica that would serve until we felt safe putting the other one up. He and Sue hosted the first gathering in 2003. They have hosted every ride we've brought to Franklin since then. We outgrew their old place and have almost out grown the new place. It's not like any other event you'll go to. The only people that have ever been invited are family, close friends, Frankliners and BadWeBbers but once they come, they are family. Mike and Sue have made good friends with everyone I have invited to their home. Family kind of friends. Many a bike has now been repaired at the Breedlove's or Mike was able to find someone who could repair it. It's a good family feeling when you talk to him and he's just talked to Hillbilly Ed or Ferris or his best wrasslin' buddy Alex. Watch out Twig, he told me the other day, "I really like that feller." As I sit here writing this I realize I could easily be talking about Dad. They have a lot in common. Every person he cared for became intertwined in his life. You never doubted his love for you as a friend with his words, his deeds or handshakes and hugs. Mikey is like that. God took Dad 9 years ago but He gave us Mike & Sue Breedlove 'cause He knew we had rough road to haul. I have since made good and dear friends with many of his friends and they have embraced the people I've brought to Franklin. It's an extended family like I've never known. It will forever be Kim and I's second hometown and many others' because of the kindness of one fellow rider, Mike Breedlove. Thanks brother! JB2 (Message edited by jb2 on June 01, 2011) | ||
| Court |
Mike and Sue Breedlove . . .to me . . are the embodiment of about everything that's right about this country and life. You'll hear more and it just gets more amazing. You meet Mike and Sue and immediately feel like you've known them for years. I still recall that day. I got the word and was stunned. I'd never met Big Jim but knew of is legend. I also had never met Mrs. Bantz but the moment I got the news I called and got her phone number and we had another one of those . . . "Ma'am, you don't know me, but we need to talk". I called her a number of times in the coming days knowing how torn JB2 was having to be in Franklin and not being able to comfort his Mom. I explained to her that there were thousands of folks around the world holding her close. We lost Big Jim's physical presence . . . but he left oh so much in our care and so much for us to do. | ||
| Reepicheep |
This is a hard, but wonderful, thread to read. | ||
| Jb2 |
Court and Reep, you're right I guess it was time to put it all into coherent story. You both have met Mikey so you know it gets better. I'll keep adding to the post above until I get y'alls caught up.  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
JB2, thanks for sharing. FB1 | ||
| Jb2 |
Thinking about you Ferris. Thanks. Court, Mom still talks about the outpouring of friends from the BadWeB community that fateful day. Words really do fail sometimes. | ||
| Bhuff |
JB2 words do fail... Friends and Family are everything.. Thank you brother.. This was my 5th year and am looking forward to next year.. back with the family!! | ||
| Ulywife |
Thanks for sharing Jb2. I'm sure it's not easy to write, as it's not easy to read without tears. Though I've only been to Franklin once, it will forever be in my heart. This is the place that I met all those involved in Matt Ware's fund raiser. We had all talked and e-mailed behind the scenes here on BWB, but to meet all these folks face to face was a weekend I wasn't going to miss. Thanks for sharing the celebration of your Dad's life with us. It warms my heart to know that there are still good people in the world and willing to open their hearts and doors to people who need them most. Mike and Sue Breedlove, along with all the others who make Franklin such a special weekend, are angels here on earth. Thank you for introducing us to such wonderful people. Carlos and I are fortunate to be a part of this great family. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I hate/love to hear stories like this.... very hard to read.... It gives me hope and makes me thankful | ||
| Jb2 |
Kristi, yeah the story about how I met Mike & Sue is only the tip of the iceberg. The events that have followed would take a book to fill. You'd be proud to know the Matt Ware sticker on Dad's cross has held up well. We're lucky to have you and Carlos in our family! | ||
| Denisea |
Thank you Kristi, as it should be. | ||
| Prior |
This year was my 4th trip to Franklin. The first one I attended was a little over a year after Matt's death, and was pushed pretty hard by Ferris and JB2 after a quick trip to NC for work. Riding wasn't much of an option due to short timing and cheap frequent-filer tickets came up to Atlanta and I flew out of Iowa Friday morning. I met Jerry and JB2 through Badweb and my trip I did for Matt- Jerry posted on my thread offering his place up for a get together the first night of the trip and ultimitely spent a few days on the road showing me around the southwest. I met Jim through Ferris- JB2 painted an old tank from the Thong to exactly match the bodywork on my M2 and I had people from across the continent sign the tank as I did my trip. We hung out Friday night at the Franklin Motel like usual; many beers, many stories and up to late. I was going to ride Reep's KLR, but he blew that up, so Saturday morning, Jim tosses me the keys to his Vic Vegas and says go have fun. Uh, ok. So I chased Ferris around the Cherohala on a bike that's not mine, first time riding something with forward controls for any amount of time, and it's JB2s way home. Guess we're brothers. Saturday afternoon we placed Big Jim's cross and added a "Matt Ware Rides with Me" decal to it, which still looks great today. Saturday night at Breedloves was the start of the magic that Franklin is- met so many new people that have become family- Mikey, Su, Lou and Carol, Butcher and Beth, the Sellers, BHuff, the Suarez crew and the list goes on. Each year it's a different crew of people, but each year is nothing short of amazing. It was all of 3 months after that first trip to Franklin that Heather and I landed in Greensboro to check out the area and start calling NC home- with Ferris just a few miles up the road. My what a strange, but great trip it's been. Franklin will always have a special place in my heart, and we'll get Heather down there to experience it too. Glad to have you all as family! Pics to come. And I didn't crash smugmug uploading this time... | ||
| Jb2 |
>>> Guess we're brothers. Yeah, I'd say that pretty well sums it up. In addition you have been adopted by Breedlove. I'd hate to be in your shoes if you ever have to skip a year. | ||
| Honolulu_blue_esq |
Thanks for sharing this. Heartwrenching. I lived in Franklin for most of my childhood. Went to school with a few Breedloves, but I don't think I ever met Mike. I go back often to see my Mother who still lives there. This makes me want to find Mike and Sue and shake their hands. | ||
| Jb2 |
Justin, I ran your name by Mikey and he said it didn't ring a bell but he also said that doesn't mean anything. We're over 50 ya know. The triplets are his cousin's boys. He lives just off Palmer at the split with Main Street. | ||
| Honolulu_blue_esq |
JB, Next time you talk with him, ask him if he knows Kaye McCall, who later became Kaye Hardy and is now Kaye Plemmons. She is my mother. Her siblings, Jerry and Terry, are also born and raised in Franklin. I'm also related to a bunch of Millers and Hendersons from Franklin. Wow, he really is right near the Motel isn't he! | ||
| Firemanjim |
So I finally made it out for Big Jims memorial,sure glad I did. I had met Big Jim through JB2 and Ferris and he was quite the man. Soft spoken but tough and a true motorcyclist. The folks I met here are truely amazing, Mike Breedlove, Brian Sellers,and all the rest! It was a pleasure to ride on sunday with Carlos and crew,we did some great miles. The Tiger rocked. Sure was sad that Ferris, Henrik, and Court did not get to make it,would have loved to sit and tell tall tales with them! Yup--brothers! | ||
| Prior |
Oh, and FMJ! So good to see you again, brother! | ||
| Jb2 |
+1 Alex! FMJ. I was just getting ready to call ya. Seen where you did around 1100 miles on Monday. Wow! We'll talk soon brother. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Jerry posted on my thread offering his and Denise's place up for a get together... ...with Ferris and Denise just a few miles up the road... Prior, I fixed 'em for ya. You're welcome. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Ditto,Alex! Can't wait to see pics. | ||
| Jb2 |
Alex, great pictures! Especially like the one of Mr. Rainey. Glad he could join us. We've got all of ours downloaded but still haven't downsized them for BWB. Hoping to get some time soon. | ||
| Ezblast |
Pictures? - lol EZ | ||
| Prior |
They were moved in order to keep this thread about big Jim... | ||
| Whatever |
Damn you Jim (B) got me crying again. I am really sorry I missed the ride to the bridge. I was not up for a mad rush back to Franklin and did not want to hold the boys up. Doesn't help I took an hour detour that did not work out behind a crash on the Cherahola too. I will post up some more photos in the other thread. I had a great time with y'all!!! (See you guyz got me saying y'all again already).  (Message edited by Whatever on June 15, 2011) | ||
| Jb2 |
Char, good to see you back on the thread. I take it you didn't stop at our place on your way back from Homecoming? Kim wanted to pick your brain on her rock and gem collection but we'll call it seeds for another trip. Hope to get my pictures from the ride up soon too. Just been too crazy at work and home to have much confuser time. The southern accent and "isms" fit ya well although most from down there would say you still talk funny(like a Yankee). | ||
| Whatever |
Well, it ought to really mess them up now. They think I am a friggin Canadian. Then I will throw in the occasional y'all! Ha ha ha. I hammered through Indiana and Ohio ending up somewhere in western Pennsylvania, checked out Ratbuell's stash of Buells and got 'home' yesterday. Had a blast seeing you and all the usual suspects. Count me in on next year's ride!!! | ||
| Reepicheep |
My happy place!  |
