Has this wine soured?

"Can you believe I found the perfect bike for us, Amy?!" I exclaimed as I showed her the picture. "When are you going to see it?" I looked at her oddly, "I'm seeing it right now." She walked into another room as she called back to me. "You're going to have to see it in person first, before you buy it, Angelo." I noted where the bike was being sold from before replying: North Carolina. "It's in North Carolina?!" She stepped back into the room, "A quick flight to North Carolina shouldn't be too bad, should it?"

As I've gotten older, my love for traveling on airplanes has faded. In fact, I have no love for it: no interest in it; no happiness in doing it; no longing to do it; no wanting to do it; no nothing! I just don't like flying anymore!

I solemnly looked back at the computer screen. I stared at the bike as it whispered to me, "Che Cosa dobiammo fare, Angelo?" I silently replied, "I don't know what I'm supposed to do, Moto Guzzi." For the record, we were drinking questionable wine when all of this was happening. I was definitely consuming something cheap because I could have swore its headlight flickered as if winking at me!

"Can we afford it?" I asked Amy while still staring at the bike. She was coy in her response. "I think we can more afford losing the price of an airline ticket than ponying up the cash for your new crush." I looked at her with surprise, "It's just a bike." She responded, "And it's just a flight: so book it." She sipped her glass of wine, then looked at me. "Has this wine soured?"

I quickly nodded my head in full agreement.

You know you look good in leather.

My silent search to find the right motorcycle had been exposed, and therefore it would eventually become a daily topic of conversation for the three of us. I quickly knew Delilah would be an easy sell, though. I mean, what kid wouldn't want to ride in a sidecar? What kid wouldn't want to be the envy of her friends as she was dropped off at school everyday in a sidecar? I mean, what kid would not want their father to be happy?! I'm sure Delilah wanted me to be happy, but those other two examples clearly would seal the deal for her, which they immediately did! But I wasn't sure how much more work it would take to seal the deal with Amy. Surprisingly, not much. Instead of trying to explain the rudimentary difference between a tandem bicycle and a classic Italian motorcycle with a sidecar to my wife, I decided to take a different approach. "You know you look good in leather."

She walked into the kitchen, as I went back to surfing the web. Moments later, she called out to me. "I do?" Without turning away from my laptop, I smiled as I calmly responded to her. "Of course you look good in leather, honey."

The deal had been officially sealed with that reply.

I spent the next couple of months searching websites for the right bike and sidecar, but with no luck. So I decided to take a new approach. Instead of finding the right website selling a Moto Guzzi and sidecar, I decided to find people who enjoyed Moto Guzzi motorcycles. I instantly found them at MGNOC: Moto Guzzi National Owner's Club. And on my very first visit to their website's classified section, I found for sale a 2000 V11 Bassa Moto Guzzi with a black Ural Sidecar. As if walking into a large room of people standing around, talking in private conversations, I glanced over their heads to find the motorcycle looking directly at me.

"Benvenuti al partito, Angelo." It welcomed me to the party, and I was glad to be there.

How many Moto Guzzi's are out there?

So the journey of finding a motorcycle had begun for me, and it seemed to end for Amy when said it could only be an Italian motorcycle. But Amy didn't realize what type of Italian motorcycle I would want. If she had thought about my endless pleading conversations with her of wanting a tandem bicycle for all three of us to enjoy, and her not wanting to be seen on such a calamity, then she would have figured out that I would want a bike for a family of three to safely enjoy. And since they don't make motorcycles long enough for a family of three people, then there would have to be an extension or addition to it. Did someone say sidecar? I think someone did.

Since my drool was inspired by Moto Guzzi, there would be no comparing to it - the motorcycle, not the drool. For me, it was just finding the right styled Moto Guzzi, which would have to have a backrest for the back passenger (for the safety of my lady), and a sidecar (for the enjoyment of my other lady) Did someone say Ebay? I think someone did.

Although I was not a seasoned Ebayer, I started checking in at every opportunity I had. And along with Ebay, I searched on Craigslist, Cycle Trader, and every search engine I could find. I went along at a (silent) pace for about two months, all the while knowing I might find the motorcycle I want, but not the money to pay for it. Did someone say fate? I think someone did.

At this point, someone also said, "Why are you looking at Ebay so much?" My pace was silent, but had not gone unnoticed.

"Well, since you said I could look for a motorcycle, I've decided to find the bike I want." I said with a smile.

"How many Moto Guzzi's are out there?" She asked.

"The one I want has to have a backrest...and a sidecar," I replied.

"Sort of like a tandem bike?" she asked.

Before I could get sucked into a conversation for finding measures of practicality in a co dependant family, I gazed at what seemed to be gazing back at me: A 1999 Moto Guzzi, with a sidecar AND a trailer. It was brown and tan and looked great. It was expensive, but it looked great.

"Look, Amy! Doesn't it look great?!" I rejoiced, as she looked at my computer screen.

"It looks sort of like a tandem bike" she replied.

Are you drooling?

I thought the very first thing I should write about on here is why we chose a Motto Guzzi. But first, here's a very brief history of Moto Guzzi.

Moto Guzzi was founded in 1921 by two aircraft pilots and their mechanic. Their names were Carlo Guzzi, Giovanni Ravelli, and Giorgio Parodi. Even Giorgio's brother Angelo helped out. And that is called a very brief history of Moto Guzzi, which coincidentally connected nicely to me, another Angelo. Don't you agree?

In 2009, Amy, Delilah, and I attended an Italian festival in Houston. And, at this gathering of my brethren were displayed a few new Moto Guzzi motorcycles. Amy had known for the last 12 years that I'd like to own a motorcycle, but the knowledge of a few motorcycle accidents in my early 20's had kept her from agreeing to let me get one.

But on this magnificent day, high up in the cannelloni clouds of heaven, the Italian patron God - let's call him Guido - nudged Amy's chin slightly toward me to let her observe the slight drool that was dripping down my chin as I stared at the bikes. "Are you drooling?" I kept quiet as she continued. "Okay" she said, "You can get a bike, but it has to be an Italian bike." I looked back at her, trying to keep calm and act cool. "I don't think that will be a problem." I felt like a man, as she proceeded to wipe the drool off my chin.

We're here...are you?

'ello,

So, it seems we are going to start on a family journey that has not been done quite like this before. How so? The journey will begin (actually started 30 days ago, in fact!) as my wife, daughter, and I travel around America on our classic Italian Moto Guzzi Motorcycle and sidecar, searching for fun and exciting places that are off the beaten path. We are all a bit quirky, and so, we are interested in finding exciting spots to showcase that are a bit quirky, too. Yes, showcase - because it's the beginning of a TV show. which is okay to mention since it's has a trademark and copyright! My wife Amy is a fashion designer and our daughter Delilah is a young writer. I've been in the music, entertainment, fashion and literary world for some time. Together we hope to bring enjoyment to many as "My Family Goes...to America" with you:) Here's a couple of pics:)