Month: April 2019

There’s always this bittersweet feeling when you give up something you love. Physical belongings are just that and people say you shouldn’t get too attached, but it’s the memories that surround those things that make it an important part of your life. At the end of everything, we’re all just an accumulation of experiences and though physical objects are fleeting, so is everything else.

It’s not the motorcycle I’m about to sale that I’m attached to. It’s the trips I’ve taken on it that I’ll always remember and the thought that I won’t be taking anymore that’s making me nostalgic. It is like losing an old friend in a way. One thing about life, if you live long enough, you’re going to lose people and things that you care about. Some willingly, some, not so much, but you don’t always get a choice.

I’m selling my bike to an older gentleman who’s been watching a close friend deteriorate for the last few months. I get it. That need for something to help you feel alive as you watch a loved one fade away. Something about grabbing life by the balls is empowering. Pushing the limits can be invigorating. Cutting down the road at inhuman speeds with nothing but a layer of leather between yourself and the rest of the world makes you feel vulnerable and powerful all at the same time.

Right now I’m waiting for my wife to wake up so we can deliver the bike. We have a newborn and I’m selling this for some extra cash as we adjust to this new phase of our life. The one certainty in life is change, and I’m having to make adjustments to this new phase in life. I’ve enjoyed my life up to this point, but I’m also super excited about all the adventures I get to share with my kid now.

Words never make a loss much easier, and I won’t compare losing a bike to losing a loved one, but I just want to say to anyone going through anything like this; life can sometimes be sad and hard, but it is also simultaneously a beautiful and unexpected adventure. Letting go of one thing in order to move to the next is not always easy but it is always necessary. How you do that is up to you, but don’t be afraid to embrace a little adventure. This life is a wild ride so just enjoy it while you can.

Last night I had dinner with four Venezuelans. One was a pilot in their airforce who deserted about two years ago. Two have law degrees from Venezuelan universities. Venezuela was never really on my radar before I met my wife (who, full disclosure, is one of the Venezuelan lawyers). It was always just another one of those Latin American countries with an exotic name and beautiful women. (They do well in the Miss. Universe pageants ok. I’m not just being a pig.)

I’ve become kind of obsessed with what’s going on down there, but it’s really hard to get an honest and complete picture. I tend to find two completely opposite sides of the story. I’ve tried to get to the real core of it, but it’s a challenge. Both sides claim the other side is pushing propaganda and that the situation is worse or not as bad as they say. Lately, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know several people from this distraught nation, and I wanted to share some things I’ve learned about the situation. I’ll admit that these aren’t hard facts but my conclusions after reading countless articles and getting to know at least a dozen Venezuelans, some of whom do still live in the country.

Best case scenario: The current ruling party in Venezuela is well-intentioned but incompetent.

I’m sure there are things going on behind the scenes that few people are aware of. I’ve read that the rich have waged economic war and intentionally ruined the economy to spur change. Maybe, but if you’re in charge of one of the most resource-rich (oil, gold, etc.) countries in the world with a year-round growing season and you can’t keep your country from falling into disastrous ruin, you’re incompetent.

I’ve heard story after story of the government seizing property, equipment, and businesses only to run them into the ground. The pilot told me of one instance where the government seized the assets of a private ferry company and ended up sinking the boats due to poor management and lack of maintenance. I’ve read and been told that the blackouts are the result of an electrical grid that has fallen into dire disrepair in the hands of the government due to lack of upkeep. This list goes on and on.

Medium case scenario: The poor people were taken advantage of during the prosperous times in Venezuela and this was their retaliation.

Before the rise of the Bolivarian revolution, Venezuela was the wealthiest country in Latin America. But there was a growing divide between the rich and the poor, and Chavez came to power on the promise of standing up for the those who lived in poverty. He was able to deliver on many promises due to a surge in oil prices at the time but failed to build the foundation for lasting success.

The transition to the current government was democratic. I’ve never seen anything arguing against the legitimacy of that initial election that brought Chavez to power. A surge in oil prices for the first decade of his reign helped bolster the economy and led to a lot of improvements for the poor in the country, but the social programs and government controls proved unsustainable.

It’s like when a poor person hits the lottery and doesn’t make any real investments or plans. Maybe they live the good life for a while, but they fail to manage their fortune and end up right back where they started or worse. The Venezuelan government took the goose that lays the golden eggs and ate it for dinner.

Worst Case Scenario: The current government is a narco-dictatorship that rules through fear and control of resources while plundering the countries wealth, arming criminals, and imprisoning and oppressing opposition.

Some people like to point out that Juan Guido (the opposition leader) isn’t in prison right now as proof that the government isn’t as bad as people say, but let’s not forget that the U.S. has backed him and made public announcements that there will be consequences if any harm comes to him. I’ll be the first to admit that the U.S. isn’t perfect and that maybe it isn’t our place to interfere, but everyone knows we’re not afraid to get involved in other countries, and I think this is the only reason Mr. Guido isn’t being tortured in the Helicoide right now.

The truth is probably some combination of these. But there are some things that seem undeniable:

• Crime has surged.
• Poverty is worse than ever.
• A mass exodus is threatening to destabilize the entire region.

People want to say the U.S. is only interested in the oil reserves of Venezuela. Maybe, but what are countries like China and Russia interested in? They don’t even seem to really care about their own people so I’m going to venture to say that it isn’t the plight of the common Venezuelan that has drawn so much international attention. I don’t see Venezuelans walking to Russia, Iran, or China so I really don’t see why they get a say in the matter. The Caribbean islands have benefited from petroleum trade deals with the Chavez government, but again, how many Venezuelans have these countries played host for? How many Venezuelans has Cuba taken in? Probably not nearly as many as the neighboring countries in South America. It can be argued that the U.S. should take a step back, but the neighboring countries are directly affected by the Venezuela situation and seem to have a lot to say about it. Maybe we should listen to them.

All I can say with certainty is that I’d like to take my son to meet his family in Venezuela without fear of getting robbed, arbitrarily arrested, kidnapped by guerrillas, or murdered by armed gangs, and I don’t see that happening under the current government. Whatever happens, I want the best for the country and people and hope they can reclaim their place as a paradise once more.