Dear Auntie Abate

by John Reblin

What does it take to write this article every month, and make it interesting enough for someone to read and comment? For me it is not an easy task. And this month it just got a little harder.

As soon as I write an article I start thinking of the next one. Looking for that hook, that comment that inspires me. Books, TV, movie, or that life experience that makes me think, yeah that works.  I can twist it and make something out of that interesting and motorcycle rights related.

Jerry Kramer was inducted into the NFL Football Hall of Fame.  I was going to write about him this month and the work that he contributed to the Green and Gold, along with the rest of the team, to win multiple championships in the sixty’s. The injuries that he has sustained over the years should have side lined him.  But he was able to convince coach not to pull him, knowing if he did not continue he would have probably been dropped.  I would have written about how once he was not feeling confident about his playing and his coach grabbed his hand, looked at it and said he was going to be a great player – saying “You can if you will”.

I wanted to talk about him being slighted by being passed over and not being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame for years and then finally, getting into the Hall and having that goal accomplished.

I was making notes about this, a pile of scraps of paper next to my laptop, thinking of the direction I was going in  and decided I wanted it tied to Hardtail’s induction into the Sturgis Hall of Fame as a Freedom Fighter. I was going to try to compare his not being chosen prior to this year, to how Kramer got overlooked. I was going to talk about Chubby’s and my quick trip to Sturgis to witness the event.  We left on Monday afternoon and returned back home Thursday afternoon. I wanted to talk about us cruising out there as brothers to see a mentor being honored in this way and wanted to touch on the brotherhood I witnessed when Chubby’s stator went out near Rapid City.  We did make it to our destination and I was wondering how Chubby was going to make it home.  I was going to tell you how Jiggs took us to Sturgis to a friend’s house to determine what exactly we needed to do to fix the bike and how within minutes the bike was on a lift and being torn down for repairs. The repair was done within a couple of hours which included serving us a delicious Mexican meal, with no expectation of payment.  A shining example of just one brother that could, –  helping another brother that needed help.

I wanted to talk about the induction ceremony, I was in awe of the people that were there to see everyone being inducted into the Hall under different categories.  I wanted to share the words Hardtail spoke while receiving this honor. Talking about his start, his work, and his acknowledgement that it was not just himself, but a group effort, that made it all possible. He recognized his brothers by asking them to stand if they were a member of an SMRO, if they attended a lobby day, attended a MOTM, visually showing us that it takes a joint effort to gets laws changed.  I wanted to add a line by Lombardi that summed this all up, “The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender”.

But on August 29th the ideas I had changed quickly with the passing of my great friend Marlene and how my life has been changed by her and how now it will be a little bit emptier. I won’t have that confidant to ask questions to. Not just questions about ABATE of Wisconsin but also questions about life, friends and work. I won’t hear that heavy sigh as I asked a question starting with “How do I?”.  Within  minutes I would have the answer.  I no longer have that quick sarcastic bit of humor.  When getting involved in the organization Marlene, Twit, my wife and myself got along like family. I think it was this way with all her friends, to be welcomed as a friend and to leave part of family.

When I was chosen to be Deputy Director, I was not sure how I would do, if I would drown in the “waters of ABATE”.  After a time, I did a breakout session with Marlene at one of the many conferences we attended.  A picture came up of Chubby, Steve Panten and myself during her presentation.  Not sure where this was going,  I let her continue and the point she made regarding the three of us, was that there was nothing that would stop us or the this organization.  Humbled she felt that way, I always thought nothing could stop that frugal Polish Woman.

She had her opinions and as we all know she was not afraid to share them. She loved great conversation, books, and cooking. She always talked about her different dogs, and loved to have that bourbon old fashioned.  But she also cared about all people, the MRF and of course,  ABATE of Wisconsin.

I know somewhere, she is showing God, or whoever is on the other side, how to make a proper old fashioned, getting ready to explain what a big city f@#k is and where she fits in that new organization she just joined.

I could go on and on with stories as I know all of you who met her could, but my heart is heavy with sadness and my eyes tearing with sorrow. Marlene you will be missed by all.

John