So, today I put on a brand spankin' new H-D t-shirt I bought in Seaford, DE yesterday. It made me a little happy.
Tommy Jefferson is my oldest 1st cousin, 20 years my senior. Tommy was in-country, Vietnam before I was even born. he was honorably discharged from the USMC before I was 1 yr. old. Tommy spent 65-68 in the Corps. Not the best of times to be there for sure. He, of course like so many of that era, has a purple heart. He also received a little fresh blood while in-country. Like a complete transfusion, before he could be medi-vaced out to a real hospital. He finished his service in San Diego, where he also got married. After the Corps. Tommy had a son and became a telephone company lineman. He retired several years back. He was divorced in the 70's and his son is 34.
I was looking at his old pictures over the weekend. The early ones, him in white t-shirt and jeans, in a Rollie Free position (only head up, not down, big smile) I would guess either just pre-Vietnam or shortly after return. He was riding a very small Jap bike like a Benley or Dream. Later pictures show his 4cyl. Jap bike with extended forks. Then came the Harleys. He had several. A superglide. Several very custom bikes. All so dripping with authenticity, the editors of Iron Horse or The Horse would all be drooling.
Tommy had a H-D tattoo on his left arm and Woodstock smokin' on his left ankle. My first tattoos were in the almost exact same locations.
Tommy was never perfect. He drank a lot of beer. Woodstock wasn't smokin' a cigatette. Tommy had a very bad liver.
During the aforementioned transfusion Tommy got a little buddy he wasn't ever counting on. His beer is not what ate up his liver. It was the silent killer, Hepatitis C, which was latent for years. His little lasting present from those nice people in SE Asia.
Tommy was president of his local Foreign Legion for longer than anyone in its history. He saved a motorcyclist who crashed near a local park he was at with family, by applying a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
Tommy got the transplant list for a liver last year, shortly after he came to Ky for my wedding. Most never found out in the family, but Tommy did as he only knew and passed over 2 organs so that 2 children could have them. He was therefore kicked of the list to receive a liver transplant.
Last year I talked to Tommy about riding again. He had been off of 2 wheels for almost 20 years. He had a new Superglide on his mind. This year he went out bought it. Rode it for 3 days. Called me, as excited as I've ever heard him, and told me about it. I called him a few day later. I was sad but understood he took it back and the shop gave him a full refund. Tommy had realized he didn't have the strength he used to have, and worried that if anything happened, it would be REAL bad. I fully understood, but more than anything, I just loved to hear the joy in his voice when he talked about riding again. It was pure joy.
Last Thursday, Jon, Tommy's son, found him dead in a pool of blood in his living room. I flew to Delaware Friday. I had to come back Sunday, so I couldn't stay for the funeral as I had to be in Court today. So, after work when I came home I put on the new H-D t-shirt I got yesterday at the Seaford De dealership. (I sent Lew to school in his today too, though he doesn't know the whole story why.)
I like my new T-shirt.
RIP Alvin Thomas "Jeff" Jefferson, and GodSpeed.
