| Author | Message | ||
     Jerry_haughton |
this e-mail was waiting in my in-box this morning. it made me cry. and it made me glad. i'll talk more in a minute. I have been thinking of all of Daryl's dear friends today. It was one year ago today that so many of you added items to Daryl's Memorial Cross in Arizona while on your Springfast in 2005. The day that Daryl received his new Buell he came down here to Mont Vernon to show it to me. His motorcycle was only two hours old. Never realizing that it would be my last photo of him. He truly enjoyed his motorcycles over the years. When he was only seven we bought him a Honda 50 for his birthday on June 12th. We have had a lot of motorcycles over the years. Daryl and his dad, Charlie, would often take a day trip and go off fishing and sightseeing. When Alicia saw the photos she stated that she is going over to see the memorial in Arizona. Knowing her she certainly will. Such a grand gesture placing all those special things in such a special place. Thank all of you - the carvings - the Pegasus Logo!! So wonderfully beautiful to see!! I have kept your letter and photos on the right side of my computer ever since I received them on June 11th. The letter and photos are so special to me and Daryl's daughter, Alicia. I'd like to tell you a little about his only daughter. She was living in Tilton with Daryl's live-in Carole. Daryl was divorced and Alicia had decided that she wanted to come and live with her dad. This had happened only in June of 2003 after she was out of school. When her dad passed away things at the house were not going well at all. I was unable to have her for Christmas - but she did come and celebrate with me over New Years. Her Godfather, Peter Simo, came to visit and talk with her. They were upstairs in the dining area and asked me to come upstairs. While I was sitting at the table Peter announced to me that Alicia wanted to come and live with me. I was astonished and couldn't believe it!! I remember putting my head down on the table and Peter asked if that was good or bad!! I asked Alicia why she would want to come and live with me as I am 66 years old. She beautifully replied that she knew I was lonely and so was she. I am blessed with such a grand 17 year old granddaughter. She is a Junior at Souhegan High here in Amherst, NH. In the fall she was a cheerleader for football. Last year she won an award for most push ups!! This spring she is playing Junior Varsity Softball. She has a photo of her Dad over her bed and keeps his cell phone on her nightstand. Daryl had bought a 1994 Jeep Cherokee Laredo just weeks before he went on his Torquefest to Arizona. His place of employment, Merchants Nissan in Concord, NH, did some body work and mechanical work at cost. The day Daryl left on his trip his award as a Master Technician for 2003 arrived at his place of work. He never got a chance to see it. In March of 2004 Alicia and I were blessed with an all expense paid trip to Las Vegas in honor of Daryl receiving his award. Alicia was a proud young lady and joined the rest of the fellas in line waiting to receive her father's award. She received his ring and also Nissan jacket which she wears proudly!! We met another nice young couple from Kentucky and have kept in touch ever since. There isn't a day that goes by that my dear son, Daryl, isn't on my mind. Whenever any of you see a beautiful butterfly that's Daryl saying, "Hi"!! I believe in Angels and I feel he sits up on my left shoulder. Every now and then it becomes heavy!! I still have my feelings about October 4, 2003 - I find it so hard to believe that Daryl lost control and ended his life. If only - seems like such two big words. Jack Lemon received a settlement and I do hope he is able to continue enjoying his motorcycle. As for me, I am a real lucky lady - I am able to maintain my home here in Mont Vernon, NH and also a lake house on Lake Winnisquam in Tilton, NH. My days are nicely filled with caring for Alicia and being with family and friends. I just treated myself with a new 2006 Toyota Camry XLE. I can't begin to thank all of you enough for everything that you have done for Alicia and I. I have a keepsake box of Daryl's things and so they will always have a safe home within. May God be with all of you as you travel and keep you safe. Love Shirley Levesque     it's unexpected little gifts like this letter from Mrs. Levesque that makes me proud to be a rider, and proud to be member of BADWEB. we've got a lot of folks in this online community with hearts as big as the universe - i've seen this love and compassion expressed many times and in many ways over the years - and i'm asking for a favor: please write to Mrs. Levesque and let her know you care. you don't have to say a lot, just a quick word or two would be a marvelous way to show that we're all in this together. Mrs. Levesque's e-mail address is levesj at adelphia dot net. i trust y'all know what to do with the "at" and the "dot". she doesn't know i'm doing this, and if she only gets one e-mail as a result of all of this, it'll have been worth it. thanks, people. it's an honor to a part of this place. Ferris LINK to more pix from Daryl's memorial | ||
| Bomber |
my -- my grandpa always said that goodness breeds goodness -- thanks, JH -- nice post to start the week on . . . . | ||
| Jb2 |
we've got a lot of folks in this online community with hearts as big as the universe - i've seen this love and compassion expressed many times and in many ways over the years Amen | ||
| Oldog |
Thanks for sharing..... | ||
| Oldog |
Thanks for sharing.....  | ||
| Cataract2 |
If I get a chance or am stationed out in AZ I will take a trip to that place to see it and pay my respects. | ||
| Cruisin |
Thanks Ferris. I rode with Daryl in 2003 in the Carving the NorthEast BRAG ride. We spent several days doing some crazy speeds on all kinds of roads. Our group was quirky, but we had a blast. He made sure to keep Tammy's spirits up while waiting for the ambulance to come pick her up (broke both bones in her lower leg). Roomed with me for a night since he didn't make reservations. I vividly remember him patching a primary fluid leak in an Advance Auto Parts parking lot at 9:30 at night, still having 165 miles to go. We made it to the hotel at 12:30 in the morning. Daryl was one hell of a guy. Here's a couple pics from that trip: Look closely at the sign   Fixing the primary leak  | ||
| Diablobrian |
Never met the guy, but the letter was moving. Thanks for sharing. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
thanks guys. thank you Cruisin for the great memories and pix of Daryl. FB | ||
| M1combat |
e-mail sent Jerry. Thanks for the reminder. The Torque fest ride took place as I was putting everything together to get my XB. I thought long and hard about not getting a bike the week you guys all got back and I heard the news. I remember following all of the threads and I even stopped in show-low that weekend to hang out with all of you but missed you all by a while (probably due to the delay). To this day, every time I'm running the spars and I'm having a little too much fun I think of Daryl and my ride gets safer. | ||
| Sleez |
very touching letter, tears in my eyes, i didn't know him, but feel as if i did! | ||
| Mikej |
I walked over to the window here at lunch and saw a butterfly fly by. I smiled. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
To this day, every time I'm running the spars and I'm having a little too much fun I think of Daryl and my ride gets safer. thanks Don. i do the same when i start riding a little too hot. i think of the good people we've lost, and all the people still here that i love. it ALWAYS helps. if memories of Daryl saves another rider's life, then his death will not have been in vain. thanks Sleez and Mikej. FB | ||
| M1combat |
Well... I can honestly say that I DO believe that memories of Daryl have saved my life. You've ridden the spars (the canyon road just before we got to Prescott), and you know that it's cliff on one side, rock wall on the other. That's the road I use to scrub my tires and enjoy my Sundays (and Saturdays... And weekdays after work quite often... and somtimes when I call in sick...). I know it's a very dangerous road but those ones are the most fun. In any case... I wasn't stretching the truth in the least. Every once in a while his memory does indeed pop into my head and I slow down. The other side to that is when I do slow down I notice the scenery and the rest of what life has to offer on the Spars. Thank you Daryl. I never met you... but I can promise that you touched my life and it's for the better. A lot of people just don't have that spot that kicks in and tells them to be safe. You gave that to me. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Jerry, Shirley's letter really hit me. I truly wish Mike and I could have ridden the route on the final day last of years ride. I remember well the postings from Daryls accident. The above letter from him Mom has me in tears. Thank you very much for sharing it with all of us. Brad | ||
| Careyj |
Thank you Jerry, that letter made my day!!! Email sent. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
That pic of all of us there... I to have responded, and thanked her for keeping us in her heart, as we have kept her son. Thanks Jerry. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
thanks guys.  | ||
| Ghostrider |
Jerry, Thanks for posting that. The Torque-fest was my first BRAG event and as it turns out, a really tough one to forget. It was a couple of days of traumatic occurrences that I've had trouble forgetting. Because of the frustration that I felt that day with Daryl, I've since converted my tank bag into an EMS kit. I carry everything I can to be ready to help out the next time someone goes down. With Daryl, we had nothing to work with and had to improvise heavily. Unfortunately, I don't think anything we did or could have done would have changed the outcome. As M1 points out, these reminders really help to sober us to the realities of pushing that envelope a little too far. I haven't been back to that area since that fateful day, but will likely stop there this September (2,3,4) when the NM & AZ BRAG groups get together for "Mountain Madness". I hope some of you can join us for that ride. Until then... "Be Safe Out There." | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
thanks for the thoughtful post, CJ. it seems Daryl touched a lot of lives, and he is still doing so. i know that Mrs. Levesque takes some comfort in the fact that her son has not been forgotten. Denise and i will be in North Carolina for the BRATPAC rally when Mountain Madness takes place, but even tho we'll be on the other side of the country, we'll be thinking of Daryl along with the rest of you. thanks again CJ, and everyone else here, for caring. FB&D | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
i dint know of this situation till now. just happened to stumble apon this post. i must say after reading it i was teary-eyed. never knew daryl but still feel like a brother/friend has fallen. i'll send a email to Mrs. Levesque and hope it helps her in some way. very moving letter indeed. it does make you think how easily things can go wrong in seconds flat. i have two boys and while ridding i tend to get cought up in the moment..then i think about them and i slow down and ride my own ride. i try to tell myself to drive like my son is on the back....seems to help me slow down a bit. my thoughts are w/ Mrs. Levesque and daryl's daughter Alicia. i wish them well.  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
very nice post, Eric, thank you. FB | ||
| Bartimus |
thanks for posting that Hawgboy, (er, I mean Jerry, oops, I mean Ferris) It is good to see that our thoughts and actions put a smile, and a ray of sunshine upon Daryl's family. I will never forget the Tourque-fest. Nor will I forget many other rides that I've been on. Memories are all we have sometimes, hold on tight, lest they slip away. | ||
| Hattori_hanzo |
From the summer of '04...the first big ride I went on with you hooligans! We also stopped and paid our respects. I never met the man, but seeing his memorial and feeling the tragedy of his life cut short hit home with me. Thanks Jerry for reminding us.    | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
thanks guys, and thanks for posting the pix. FB |
