At one time or another we have all come across the expression "riding the open road".
We may have heard it in an exciting movie, read it in a magazine, or we could have overheard it at a restaurant where a biker's club had gathered.
Familiar with the phrase, I never really grabbed its essence, until I actually sat on a bike and experienced my first official group ride.
You see, tired of boring weekend evenings on the couch watching old flicks, CSI re-runs and way too many commercials, my husband and I decided it was time to shift gears and start making memories again.
After a brief talk, we decided that the best way to fight our monotonous nightlife was by replacing it with a pastime that would roar with excitement.
In other words, we bought a motorcycle, and joined a club.
It was quite a decision and my friends responded to it exactly the way I thought they might.
They bombarded me with warning emails, pointing out every possible risk and drawbacks associated with such an extreme hobby.
Despite all the turn-off notices, I fortunately still wanted to give it a try.
I was tired of simply existing in my comfort zone, felt quite enthusiastic about a change, and strangely enough, sensed no fear, neither of the lurking dangers on the road, nor of the tough-looking crowd my husband and I had joined at the gathering place.
All those leather jackets, weathered faces, scruffy hair do's, beards and pony tails were attributes I had never seen myself fancied with, especially not in my pre-retirement years.
Yet, here I was, eager to go, all dressed up in my brand-new, safety padded jacket with zippered vents, my state-of-the-art helmet, complete with 'do-rag' and my exclusive traction-control black boots, the only leather pieces in my biker's wardrobe so far.
In preparation of our first ride with the club, my husband had previously taken me on two short trips around the neighborhood.
To my delight, I felt quite comfortable on the passenger saddle and never had a boring moment.
Busy bee as I usually am I was afraid that my limbs would start twitching if they were unable to perform some kind of chore, but surprisingly that did not happen.
Actually, I was impressed, as I began seeing things in our own town's backyard I had never noticed before, and when the ride was over, I could not help but wonder as to when I was going to start feeling that "fear", several of my car-loving friends had so extensively talked about.
Of course I was anxious, but it was the good kind, that sort of apprehensive curiosity that soon would turn into an eager desire to give it another go.
So, here we are, ready to hit the open road.
I must admit that I felt a bit proud, me, grandmother of seven, riding in staggered formation in a real biker convoy.
Not that I felt macho or tough, but there was something magical about being accompanied on my journey by adventurous people, who are happy to live life to the fullest.
It was as if a warm security blanket was wrapped around me, and feeling all fuzzy and warm inside, I was able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Arizona desert to the fullest.
I had seen many sunsets before, but this one was different, more vibrant and mesmerizing.
Accessorized by the sounds of the cycle engines, the whistling wind, and bathing in nature's cool scents, it felt as if I had just discovered the Sonora wastelands, truly seeing it for the very first time.
Surrounded by the reddish glows of a descending late-summer sun, I scouted the tapestry of the desert landscape.
Saguaro cacti, tumble weed, fairy dusters, ocotillo, and many other hardy plant were growing freely, exactly where nature intended them to be, and I realized, I too was exactly where I had to be, tightly holding on to my husband, the wind pounding on my face, and my pant legs joyfully flapping in the nightly breeze.
Of course, there are still a few bugs that need to be ironed out.
As a typical female, I'm still struggling with my flattened hair after I remove my helmet, and am still leery to grab my drink when I am thirsty while riding, but I know that, in due time, and with the help of my new friends, I will learn, and in the end, prevail with confidence.