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Outdoor Life: Welcome to the great outdoors
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Posted by rdtusmc Sun Mar 19, 2006 17:02:29 PST
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0 responses 0 comments I was told some time ago that Southwest Bakersfield would be getting its own Voice publication, similar to what Northwest Bakersfield residents have been enjoying in the form of The Northwest Voice since May of 2004. I was fortunate enough to have been selected by the management of The Southwest Voice to write my column, “Outdoor Life,” for their publication, also.

It seems that the editor and publisher of The Northwest Voice were so underwhelmed by my performance of the past two years that they quickly gave the nod to the editor of The Southwest Voice. 

“Here, you take him,” said Lauren Ward, my editor at The Northwest Voice. De McCallister, general manager of The Southwest Voice, seemed a little concerned about Lauren’s enthusiasm in sending me over to her staff.

In a cruel twist of fate since that exchange between Lauren and De, Lauren was appointed as the editor of The Southwest Voice, also –– sweet!

One day, after receiving this news of my return like a bad penny, she seemed a little down in the dumps. 

“Is something wrong?” I asked Lauren. 

“Oh no, nothing really,” she replied. Her eyelids were blinking like the boss of Peter Sellers’ character, Inspector Clouseau, in the movie The Pink Panther.  

Now I get the honor of joining The Southwest Voice and get to keep my regular job at The Northwest Voice. This column will offer ideas for exploring the outdoors responsibly on motorcycles, quads and 4x4s.

Here are a few things about my background so you might better understand my rantings:

Born, raised and educated in Bakersfield, I attended local schools and Bakersfield College with a major in forestry. I was influenced most by my mom and dad, my wife, Cheryl, a few other family members, a handful of top-notch teachers and professors, some virtuous political leaders, our family business and church.

I am fortunate that Cheryl still loves me after 27 years. We have two adult children, Max (26 and married to daughter-in-law Dana) and Shellie, 23. We have two brilliant grandkids through Max and Dana, Jared, 3, and Kamryn, 1 1⁄2. I never realized they would be so fun and invigorating.

I served in the Marine Corps, with my last assignment with the First Marine Division in an infantry battalion. I got to travel with the Marines to the Caribbean, South America, and the Mediterranean area. I also served at California military bases at Camp Pendleton, Bridgeport Mountain Warfare Training Center and Twentynine Palms, as well as the aircraft carrier USS America, home ported at Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia.

The Marines taught me who Dick Taylor really is, held me to a higher code of standards, and made me realize that some things are worth fighting for and worth risking your life for. Cheryl taught me to not take myself too seriously and to have a sense of humor.  

I started riding dirt bikes when I was about 13, and rode street bikes for a few years when I owned a couple of Harleys. I left the street bike scene when our kids were born, but got back into riding off-road motorcycles in the early 1990s when we started using a dirt bike as a motivational tool for our kids in school. In other words, good grades equal saddle time on your dirt bike; bad grades equal no riding. Much like no tickie/no shirtie.

I have raced desert motorcycles in sanctioned competition. Desert racing taught me two things: 1. respect for the same desert that has been killing humans for centuries, and 2. don’t give up my day job. 

I look forward to hearing from you. Happy Trails!         

E-mail Dick at: rdtusmc@msn.com         

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