Thanks to all who helped Eastside Harley-Davidson at our Anniversary Party celebrate our fourteenth year in business – going strong for fifteen! Visiting with all our loyal customers and friends is one surefire way to Get Happy. I had a great time on the food line reconnecting with many old and new friends. Thanks to Scott and the gang for another great party. Tasty food and great camaraderie; can’t beat that combination.

I have decided not reading newspapers and tuning out The Today Show with Matt, Meredith and friends is a smart move…at least for the summer. Who needs to fly when we have the perfect machine to make our dreams come true? Who says the cost of gas forces us to put vacation plans on hold? I have seen so many motorcycles on the road both in Washington and Idaho. I wonder if the start of summer has anything to do with it (maybe a little) or is it that we Harley riders just refuse to let $5.00 gas bug us.

Someone asked me the other day “how many leather jackets does a Harley rider need”? Well, let’s see…one for winter, one for spring, one for summer, one for fall and oh yes, one of those “justcouldnotpassitup” jackets!!! I am recycling a lot of jackets these days and giving some away. I heard there were some Harley clothes at Goodwill up the street as well. Spring cleaning was a must this year - my office, my closet, my saddlebags and of course, my purse. I am still looking for the key to the Fat Boy. Wonder which pocket it ended up in? Casey always keeps a spare for me (I am not convinced that I have actually lost the key so I hope he does not read this - he gets pretty sassy when he knows I actually need him). All kidding aside, Casey has been with us the fourteen years I have been involved with Eastside and he was up in that birdhouse in Kirkland quite a few years before the kids from Bellevue stumbled onto the scene. We could make a TV Show of those first few years - it was sometimes a bit tense but always a challenge to stick with it. Somewhere along the way we all ended up being great friends and comrades. What a trip it has been.

I was looking around at the people who really make Eastside go and there are a lot of not-so-old faces – they have been around for a few years but not long enough to have tenure! I feel very fortunate to have these fresh faces with enthusiasm and new ideas and great attitudes. I know that some of you know exactly who I am referring to….and if you haven’t a clue who I am talking about, why you had better get right on down to our store and check us out. I am still bragging about our Customer Service Scores - you have made us look great in the eyes of the Mother Ship in Milwaukee – first in our District and top ten nationwide. We have been trying so hard to get it right and earn your respect and good will. Thanks for sticking with us and for letting us get it right. The kids are constantly trying to come up with new ways to improve customer service – both in front of and behind the counters. We Love What We Do!!

Thanks for dropping by - ride safe – and remember: Wear That Helmet when you cross out of Washington State. Have a great riding season and if you need a few buddies to ride with, call, drop by for a latte’ or check out the website to find out what our HOG Chapter has planned. They have a great riding schedule for this summer.