An ode to "Shorty"

[vegantigress]

"Shorty"

I close my eyes

And I miss the roar

And the feel of wind blowing through my helmet

Past my ears

I used to love that feeling actually.

I love the smell of the cold

And sitting outside in the middle of a lake

Knowing it was frozen but still hearing an occassional

Crack or grumble in the ice.

I miss that.

I miss riding my old sled...

It had chipped off paint, a torn up seat, and rusty engine parts within

"Shorty's Automotive" written all over the sides...

And a Ski doo joke painted on the front that said "Cheeze Grader"

The "doos" used to get mad at me for....

I think I'll miss the amusement.

Instead of riding this winter I spent most of my time, effort, and money

Fixing broken parts, taking off each bolt, screw, pin

And wire brushing it till it glowed

I sand blasted my exhaust pipes and coated them

I sand blasted my bumper and repaired the cracks

I fixed the hood that my brother's friend ripped off of it out of stupidity.

With bolts, nuts, and washers to clamp the metal and plastic together.

I aluminum finished my running boards, and put metal grips on them

So I can jump higher and ride faster.

I put new purple screens in my hood just for added "effect."

And once I found myself stranded in Hayward at a drag race

Because my chaincase blew cause my boyfriend told me he could fix it

And I'm a girl so I don't know how.

Everything took me months, hours till midnight somedays

And I came home with a couple cuts on my hands

I slept good though.

I didn't get a chance to ride because by the time it was fixed

I spent all my money and the snow was nearly gone

I couldn't go to Colorado, or to Jackson Hole

I practically cried when my brother and his friends loaded up to go

Because I couldn't go

Mostly just cause I'm a girl and I'll just take up room and waste their time

Partially because I had no money or a sled to go with.

But I spent August through March on updates and upgrading

On a snowmobile

A project that I have never done before

A project I myself embarked on, with nothing more than an old cat manual

And a vintage ski-doo mechanic friend who told me what to take apart first

After that he told me it was my job to fix it and put it back together

Cause how you ever gonna learn?

I asked friends questions and by the time I was through

They were sick of it and wanted me to promise I'd never do it again

Because of all the small parts and weird places things are put

And because patience vanishes while doing it.

For the first time in my life though

I felt like I accomplished something.

I understood, and had patience, and was proud

It still doesn't look the best and has a long way to go

And I don't have any money

But I think by the time it's 30 years old...

It should be done :-)

Till then I'll sit on my atv

Splash mud around and get rolled on

And I'll smile for the camera and take pictures on snowmobiles

And atvs...most likely in nearly nothing.

But I'll just wait.

And wait....

Until I get a new sled where I can ride through the mountains

And jump ramps...and do all the crazy shit I've been aching to do

All while I'm modifying "Shorty"

So I can run him on a drag track and kick everyone's asses.