Rider magazine October 2019 cover.

In 1998 my dad bought his first motorcycle. It was a 1978 Honda Gold Wing GL1000. It was a big bike for dad, and quite a step for a beginning rider. Since it was autumn going into winter, the bike sat until spring. Then I bought my first motorcycle and whenever we could we would ride together. Eventually he downsized and a few bikes later wound up with a Honda Rebel. Dad loved that bike! That would be the last motorcycle he would own.

Not long after he started riding I received a postcard in the mail from Rider informing me that as a Christmas present from my father I would receive 12 issues. It was quite a magazine. Chock full of very informative articles, Favorite Rides we talked about doing and good safety advice. Every month we discussed at length all that we?d read. Every fall from that time on I eagerly awaited my little white postcard letting me know dad had once again renewed our subscription. It wasn?t that I couldn?t afford it, it was just that it came from my dad! This magazine has been a part of my life for so long, I almost can?t remember when I wasn?t reading it. The day after we buried my dad I went to the mailbox to get the mail, and as I pulled it out, there was my October issue. As I walked into my home I choked up a little because I realized I would only receive two more issues from dad. 
Thank you, Rider, for just one more connection with my dad. He loved your magazine, and I ...