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I just found out yesterday that a friend of mine was killed in a motorcycle accident back in mid-August.  It’s kind of a funny thing about my frienship with Jim.  One would think that if I was friends with him that I would have found out sooner.  That’s not the way it was.  We weren’t best friends or even close friends, but we were good friends when we were together.  Make sense? 

He was the semi-crazy guy that was always broke but it was worth payng his fare every now and then just have him around.  We hung out a couple times as we had other common interests in guns and bonfires (heh - separately).  I was even his wing man one night trying to distract his hot date’s DUFF while he tried to work his magic.  The day before I left for Arizona, he dropped by to pick up a couch I was throwing away (heh), and to show me his new toy - a Kahr Arms .380 compact semi-auto.  Nice.

He was yet another person I met locally (when I lived in Michigan) via the tight knit sport bike world of mutual friends, and more specifically Deal’s Gap riders.  We were both part of a larger group of up to ten guys that would make multiple trips to DG each year.  Not all ten went every time, but it was more or less the same faces.  That is where Jim was at his best:  on a road trip making people laugh.

On the bike side, Jim and I had a lot in common.  We were decent riders on sub-par equipment at the time.  Both of us were frequently wrenching on the roadsides of the TN & NC twisties for one reason or another.  A fine example of us trying to get his RZ350 going again: (yes that’s a Hawaiian shirt on the outside of his leathers)

The pleasure of a Road Trip is not just about riding, but the antics and camaradarie around the campfire at night.  Brehmer was the kind of guy who loved his whiskey…a lot of whiskey.  There were no women to deal on, there were no strangers to impress, just us guys sitting around the fire telling the same stories we told on the last trip.  Yet Brehmer always found a way to crack us up.  One night he blessed our presence wearing a dog collar…I guess you had to be there.

Somehow, he would manage to get himself out of bed every morning and ride.  I have no idea how anyone could finish a fifth of Jack Daniels and manage to tackle the Dragon at about ‘eight tenths’.  I know I couldn’t.  I do remember this photo below when he was pretty hung over, but soldiered on with us:

I haven’t seen Jim in a couple of years.  Funny though, I would touch base with him via email a couple time per year as jobs openings within my company would pop up.  That’s right, I was totally willing to tie my name to him as a strong referral.  While he was a jackass (in a great way) around the campfire, he always managed to do the right thing when necessary - professionally and personally.  He wasn’t reliable to show up for dinner every time (heh - or to be able to pay for dinner if he did!), but if you needed his help, he was there.  

I’m not writing this as if I lost my brother or to ask for sympathy.  It sucks, but I need no pity.  I am wirting this because I feel lucky to have known and spent time with the guy.  I feel absolutely horrible about the loss to the people, his family and life-long friends, that knew Jim well.  They are the ones that truly suffered a loss.

I have no idea as to the details of his accident, and at this point it really doesn’t matter.  What I do know is that the world has been a little less fun since mid-August and its a damn shame that his time came so early.  Life is about living in the moment, and keeping all past moments through memories.  My Deal’s Gap trips have been some of my best memories and after tonight, they mean a lot more. 

If you’re interested, another buddy named Jim has a nice memorial here, and check out some photos from our Deal’s Gap trips here and here.

GODSPEED Brehmer.  You will be missed by all of us.

EDIT 22Dec2006 - This was sent to me and its spot on about Brehmer.  (thanks Rick)

FRIENDS: Never ask for food
BIKER FRIENDS: Are the reason you have no food.

FRIENDS: Will say “hello”
BIKER FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss.

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
BIKER FRIENDS: Call your parents mom and dad.

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
BIKER FRIENDS: Cry with you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave
BIKER FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing and just being
together

FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
BIKER FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it’s yours.

FRIENDS: know a few things about you.
BIKER FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that’s what the crowd is doing.
BIKER FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds’ axx that left you.

FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
BIKER FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, “I’m home!”

FRIENDS: Are for a while.
BIKER FRIENDS: Are for life.