Anyone who has been riding motorcycles for any length of time has run into somebody like this.
Last weekend I attended a little family birthday gathering for my mothers birthday. There is a distant inlaw of mine, who's orbit only intersects mine once every few years, who pulls this same routine every time I see him. I even told my wife before we got there that he would do this.
While sitting at a table in a restaurant with my family around me , he poses the question.
" Bob, you still got your motorcycle?" ( He damn well knows I do. ) I hold up two fingers and say "Two of them." No smile on my face because I know what's coming. Then he says " Oh...hmmm, I see."
He then try's his best to look sad and gives me the disappointed head shake.
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He then reels off a couple stories of someone ( he knew personally of course! ) that got killed or maimed while riding a motorcycle. This guy is a retired airline captain and the family just thinks he's the smartest most wonderful guy. And I always bite my toungue and just let it pass, not wishing to cause an argument or make a scene. I have tried to explain that I am a careful rider and wear protective gear, but it doesn't deter him. He then turns his attention to my wife and says "Do you ride with him?" She says yes. And a new round of disappointed head shaking begins.
I told my wife afterword that I'm always tempted to ask him if he has heard about the thousands of people that have plunged to a fiery death aboard commercial airlines jets?
But I'm REALLY trying to be the better person.