My husband's joined a motorcycle gang!

OK, that's an exaggeration, but he purchased a Suzuki Boulevard M109R today. I've known since before we were married that he's wanted a motorcycle, but I've never been comfortable with his desire.

And I have good reason.

I think motorcycles are generally safe - if you're riding in a vacant parking lot - but once you head into traffic on a major street or interstate, I get nervous.

About a year into my first reporting position in Tennessee at The Jackson Sun, I covered a motorcycle v. car accident. I arrived at the scene before the emergency workers could move the motorcyclist into the ambulance. What I saw has been imprinted in my mind since: The motorcyclist lay on the ground, legs twisted with tendons hanging where his knees should have been. It was a horrible scene and a wake-up call that if a motorcyclist is hit by a car, there's little chance for survival.

My husband is an intelligent man. He's thoughtful in the true sense of the word - actually thinking things out. But once he started seriously looking at bikes about two weeks ago, he's been anxious to get one. He got a permit, signed up a driver's ed class and a week later, purchased a bike!

It's crazy that all you need is a permit to drive a motorcycle off of the lot, when you need a full license to leave a car dealership in a new car. Motorcycle dealers are putting beginner drivers at risk.

I knew he was going to eventually buy a bike - he was taking all the right steps. That is, until he got the bike before completing the driving class, which is in August. As we stood in our driveway tonight, him looking overwhelmed and me looking nervous, I told him he put the cart before the horse.

He said "yeah, sort of." And I replied, "no, 100 percent."

In a job where you're constantly faced with and writing about fatal accidents, you tend to think the worse about situations. I'm trying to stay positive, but the reality is that my husband is a very inexperienced driver and the throttle on this bike is nothing to play with. That combination makes me think something bad is bound to happen.

I know he will eventually become an ace behind those handlebars, but until that happens, whenever I see "motorcyclist down," on the newsroom's breaking news police pager, my heart will skip a beat.