My friends

I have lost two in the past year. One right in front of me. It is coming up on the anniversary of his death. February the 22nd. His name was Bartel Coleman. Here is where the story gets weird. My friend Tony D. Thomas was with us when Bartel died. He was in front of Bartel but didn't see the accident. When Bartel wrecked and Tony came back he picked up Bartel's cell phone. Bartel's wife called and Tony told her he was dead. It was the day before Tony's birthday. On December 5th Tony got killed on his bike. He was riding a wheelie and came down with the wheel turned. This was unlike Tony because he could ride a wheelie through all the gears and around curves. He was one of the people who taught me to ride wheelies, which I rarely do anymore but I got to the point where I could ride them over a mile. Now Tony's birthday is the day after Bartel died and that is absolutely screwed up. RIP Tony D. Thomas 1977-2004 RIP Bartel Coleman 1969-2004

I'm sorry to hear about your losses I haven't lost anyone because of riding but i've lost my Grandmother to heart attack, my aunt to cancer. Had a close call with my dad when he lost control of his bike last year. My mom never told me about it untill when I should up at there house and saw him in a arm sling all bandaged up. I was so mad at the world but I was still happy to know that he was there with us. Here is a quote I found on Bartel Bartel Chucky Atkens said "He taught me how to be a man and how to be successful." The Boston Globe. Bartel Bartel you are missed but you will never be forgotten. kre8

I know your pain........ a couple of months ago I lost my dad to cancer. I watch him shrivel up in a months time...then he died. There is no feeling I hate worse!

In the past two years I've lost a lot of people....the weird one is this.... June 2001, I had I guess you could call it a "vision". I pictured this car coming around the corner of a road, and I couldn't picture the car, or the driver, but I knew what it was. The car flipped over and caught fire, and whoever was inside was gone. I was sooo upset that I couldn't sleep, I was hysterical, and I felt like someone close to me was going to die. I called all my friends in the middle of the night and made them promise me that they'd drive safely. The year after that, in June, that exact accident happened to my father in law and brother in law. They were both killed instantly, and burnt beyong any recognition. the year after that, at that exact hour, on that exact day, my friend was murdered. I've also lost my grandfather to cancer, Casey's (the hubby) grandmother to cancer, and almost lost my dad in a car accident.

Ok this is kinda fucked up but I have a question. I have been hearing this sound lately and it sounds like a loud pop. The thing about it is it happens when I am falling asleep. You know when you are not completely asleep but not completely awake, that is when it happens. It took me until today to figure out what the sound was and then it hit me. The sound is the exact same sound that was produced when Bartel hit the truck. It is only the initial pop but it sounds like it is happening in my bedroom. I will never forget that sound because I have played it over and over in my head a million times. Hell everytime I throw my leg over my bike I see the whole thing happening again. I know I have a near photographic memory, it's not completely but I was told that I had to because of the things I could remember from my childhood. I have been through a lot in my life, a few head shrinks due to depression, I was diagnosed with ADD, I was put in an accelerated class and almost skipped 5th grade but I didn't want to leave my friends. I didn't think it would ever haunt me like this but that sound is bothering me. It has happened the last three or four nights. It happened several times after the wreck but I was dreaming about it, now it happens before I start to dream. Anybody got any ideas on why this is happening? I know, I am crazy but damn.

I think it could be cause it's about the same time frame that it happened and it's just coming back to you. I've never had those kinds of experiences except for my head board experience but that's a different story :lol: I wouldn't say it's like a haunt but more like a memory. Some things can't be explained and sometimes it's best left that way.

Just a thought but have u had closier with Bartel? I mean my grandmother died and I wasn't there but I use to goto her house everyday after work to atleast say hi to her and the day she passed away I didn't. So took me about 2 years to finally realize that grandma was gone. I only went to her wake couldn't get myself to goto the funeral nor the mass. About a year later I finally went to her grave even though I started to cry and they pretty much had to drag me to go there I finally said my goodbyes and felt at peace with her. Sometimes I still hear her talking to me in my head telling me not to do things or to do better and try harder. I can hear her laugh, I can see her maybe she isn't here but she's still in my heart and my mind. Sometimes you just need to talk about things and remember the goodtimes u had with Bartel. Yeah it hurts Z but it helps shit I still cry when I think about my grandmother but they are happy tears now not tears of sorrow. In my head no matter what anyone tells if feel this connection with my daughter like I had with my grandmother. Her birthday is Aug 4th, my grandmother's is Aug 7th to me I feel that my grandmother sent her to me. Yeah I know people think i'm nutts because I think that but it's what I feel. I just think you might need closier. I am I spelling that right? Well Z if u need to talk with someone i'll listen. kre8

I wasn't close to either of these guys. I had known both of them over a year but with Bartel I had only been around him when we were riding and ran into each other. I had probably talked to him about two hours total. Tony I had actually ran into and talked to quite a bit compared to Bart. It's just the fact of the events that happened, what was said and what came to be. The day of Bart's wreck was the first time I had seen him in months. We had ridden together about 5 months before that and I hadn't seen him since. I asked him where he had been and he told me about his previous crash where he broke his wrist and his jacket had saved his skin. He had just got his bike back together and hadn't been on it in a long time. I know how it is to lose people that are close to you. In may it will be two years since the worst few days of my life. I lost two people I loved in two days but that is another thread at another time.

Today was a bad day. I went to the site of B's wreck. I also talked to his wife. Today was the first time I have actually stopped where it happened. I walked up and down the road and I could see it all over again. I tried to figure out why it haunts me so much but I don't think I will ever figure that one out. Thanks for your kind words.

Sometimes you'll just never know. I still have flashbacks every time I see a Monte Carlo (the car they died in) and I close my eyes and picture the way I saw it last. I can't help it, but it happens. Best of luck, and if you ever need someone to talk to about everything, I'm here.

Today was a bad day. I went to the site of B's wreck. I also talked to his wife. Today was the first time I have actually stopped where it happened. I walked up and down the road and I could see it all over again. I tried to figure out why it haunts me so much but I don't think I will ever figure that one out. Thanks for your kind words. I didn't mention that it was exactly a year from when he wrecked. I went out there at the same time 3:33 p.m. CST. I think it helped me a little to go out there the other day. I feel better. It's kinda like I got a little closeur (sp?) Thanks Cpat.

Hey ZGixxer i'm from b'ham, I remember Bartel from 95.7 jamz and his nice looking cars like a Acura NSX, I think. Well Ive been in louisville, ky for the past five years due to school so I didnt know about his death until this christmas. Can you tell me what exactly happened in this accident?

Never mind, I read it in your mind space. R.I.P. Bartel

not that it matters, but... Closure Z-Gix just before you fall asleep, like when you feel weightless, your brainwaves go hay-wire and it sounds like its triggering something in your memory... is it still persisting?

Keep your head up Z. I think you did the right thing by going back out there. It helps with accepting it and you can go through the grieving process properly. Just try and remember the good times when you guys were tearing it up together!!! :thumbup:

My friend Tyron Benton aka: "T" (SFC U.S. Army) died on his bike 9/23/2004 doing something stupid on a busy street with no gear, not even a helmet. Where his body came to rest and where the bike came to rest was a city block apart to give a hint of the speed he was going in a 30mph zone. "T" survived the crash only to die laying on the street a few minutes later in the arms of another friend of mine, Louis. "T" was so well liked (loved) by other riders that many people left their helmets where he died. This is the only real friend I've lost due to riding and I barely knew him a year but somehow I manage to remember little things about him, like his one year anniversary. Weird thing is that the day "T" died he was wearing everything white as he was showing off his bike at a local car show. Another friend of mine asked him why he was wearing all whte. "T" told him, "I'm a ghost today". "T" died a very short time later that day.

not that it matters, but... Closure Z-Gix just before you fall asleep, like when you feel weightless, your brainwaves go hay-wire and it sounds like its triggering something in your memory... is it still persisting? Only during this time of year. It happened several times last week. I can actually hear the sound of the impact. I also have nightmares (which I never have except twice a year) where I almost relive the accident.