Mistaken Identity

Thursday, May 10th, 2007 at 9:33 am by rhino

Several years ago, I was riding in one of my favorite rural areas in the Rockies, when I stopped at a gas station to fill up. I was dressed in full leathers which were mostly white (middle of the summer color) with matching helmet, gloves and boots. As I filled my tank, I took notice of the SUV parked across the pumps from me. A father was filling the family transport and in the backseat was a little boy, I would guess about 5 years old. His face was pastered up against the window and his eyes were intensely scrutinizing my every move. I tried to ignore it, but the kids stare was absolutely disquieting. As I was hanging up the nozzle, the kid turned and yelled something to his father, I couldn’t hear.

As I was putting on my gloves, in preparation to leave, Dad came over to me and said “he thinks you’re a Power Ranger”.

Priceless,

Rhino

7 Comments

That is just too cute!

Comment by msgrits | May 10th, 2007 10:51 am | Permalink

Lasting impressions — Power Ranger it is, Rhino.

Skid Lid

Comment by Skid Lid | May 10th, 2007 7:54 pm | Permalink

I had a similar experience. I was driving down the freeway and pulled up next to a Suburban (pronounced Mormon Assault Vehicle in Utah) on the freeway. I looked to my right just in time to see a young boy’s eyes light up like a Christmas tree. He started jumping up and down in his seat like he just saw the real Santa Clause. I gave him thumbs-up and made some stupid gesture like I would expect a Power Ranger to do and then took off in a hurry down the road. At the next gas station I stopped, and while coming out of the bathroom a man who I assume was his dad stopped me to thank me for making his sons day. Apparently they were traveling and he wasn’t very excited about it. I told him to leave ahead of me and that I would come by once more just to keep him going. POWER RANGERS HO!!!!

Comment by SquidNey | May 11th, 2007 10:05 am | Permalink

I see any opportunity to make a young persons day and relate it to motorcycling as a seed planted for the next generation. Someday, I’ll be a footnote in this sport, but I want to make sure the potential future motorcyclists behind me have positive examples that make them want to discover my passion.

Impressions are the spark that falls in the tinder,

Rhino

Comment by Anonymous | May 12th, 2007 6:59 am | Permalink

At least you weren’t in pink. The mental image of you being mistaken for the Pink Power Ranger doesn’t bear thinking about.
For the most part, I’ve never even been mistaken for a motorcyclist by a car driver. But then that’s because I apparently am never even seen by most car drivers. After all - a 260lb guy on a giant silver bike with a silver jacket and 200W of bright white PIAA lights is apparently really easy to miss.

Comment by BMW Kid | May 12th, 2007 9:09 pm | Permalink

Just knowing how my boys would react at that age, you made that boy happy for the rest of the week. Who knows, maybe he will be a future Power Ranger.

Comment by Biker Betty | May 14th, 2007 8:51 am | Permalink

Recently, the POW/MIA Riders group of which I am a part, attended (at the request of the family) a memorial service for a fallen soldier. The service was held at the family home and we were all gathered around in the front yard and circular drive mostly in black leather, many with head wraps on. The soldier’s four year old nephew was watching through the window and when his grandpa askied him if he wanted to go outside he said “No.”
“Why not?”, asked grandpa.
“The pirates will get me”, replied the child.

Comment by uglicoyote | May 27th, 2007 7:57 am | Permalink

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