June 9, 1878

mikemjensen Porter Rockwell, Writing Tags: , , , Leave a comment

IMG_20150609_160415_400Hey Kids,

Riding home, I had the thought to stop by the Salt Lake City Cemetery and see my old buddy Porter Rockwell. I’m in a spot where the storyline of my work in progress about him is not working for me, something is wrong. A visit with my main character seemed a good idea; see what he thought about it.

It had been a little while, at least the other side of the winter, since I last stopped. I never know what I’ll find there. I’ve seen empty bottles from someone sharing a six-pack, coins, and a guitar pick. There’s a picture on the internet of someone leaving a .45 caliber cartridge at least once. Often, there’s flowers and the grass in that spot is worn out. Obviously, I’m not the only one who visits.

I should’ve already known this, but when I looked at the headstone, it was 137 years to the day that he passed. June 9, 1878. I try not to be spooky but it seemed an odd coincidence.

IMG_20150609_160437_391137 years after I die, I doubt anyone will be visiting my grave.

And that’s where the reality of what I’m doing hit.

He’s not just a character in my book, Porter Rockwell represents something to a lot of people. Even after 137 years.

It’s not just his rebellious spirit. It’s not just his bad assedness. It’s not just his loyalty. And it’s not just his Wild West Marshalling stories. It’s all of it put together. And that is what’s not setting right with me. In my story, I’m not maintaining the whole man. Even in fiction, he’s larger than life.

I think in my first book I got it right. But somewhere in the “artistic license” of the sophomore project, I strayed from what he means to me, and strayed from his 137 year-old legacy. I strayed from the reason people share a beer with him, share their music, bring him flowers, and leave him bullets. I missed the mark the straight-shooting, dead-eyed, gun slinger had set.

In the spirit of the man, I need to redo it, stretch higher, and dig deeper. This work is not just for and about me, it’s about Porter and for the people who, like me, still find inspiration and strength from a man that has long since moved on.

Thanks Porter. You’re still amazing.

 

Day 106

 

Still in Awe

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Hey Kids,

I don’t have a clue what the future holds and I love a lot of things from the past. But today, despite

George S. Patton

George S. Patton

some problems, is a wonderful, fantastic time to live.

The Internet has opened the world of knowledge to us like no other time in history.

Over the past several weeks, I have been doing some heavy data entry and desk work. During that time, and anytime I’m stuck at my desk, I spool up information about just about anything. Last week, the War in the Pacific, this week General Patton and the European Theatre.

It’s a marvelous time right now. I’m not ashamed to admit it.

 

Day 105

LDS vs. The World

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Hey Kids,

I heard today someone say “I don’t do LDS people.” Meaning, I don’t associate or attempt to communicate or be friendly with Mormons.

I’ve met people recently who are shocked I am Mormon, because “You don’t seem Mormon.”

How so?

I’m normal. I talk to non-Mormons as if they are human beings. Real people. I even like a bunch of them.

I don’t care if you drink beer, whiskey, coffee. Or if you smoke. Or if you swear. Or you don’t go to church every, or any, Sunday. I don’t care if you’re Christian or not, or if you even believe in God. As a person, these things are irrelevant to me as it pertains to whether you are interesting, a good neighbor, a fishing buddy, a friend, a boss, an employee, or deserving of common courtesy and friendliness. I also don’t assume that since you don’t believe the same as me, you must be lacking until I share with you what it is I believe and you agree.1016515_404587326321060_1411328951_n

Apparently, this is different from the majority of my doctrinal brothers and sisters. I apologize. Just know that there are plenty who don’t feel the need to judge and indoctrinate.

If you’re LDS and reading this, know that you’re also being judged. And the only reason you don’t know that is because your judges have stopped talking to you.

Be cool. Give the others the chance to be themselves. It’s OK to associate with people with different beliefs. In fact, hearing others opinions and beliefs might help you in understanding your own.

“Judge not, lest you be judged.” The saying is still as smart as advice as the day it was given.

I have found, however, that as much as I like someone, or dislike someone; it can all change on what football team they follow.

 

Day 104

Cycle Cycle

mikemjensen Life's Truths, Motorcycles Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,round-arrow

Cycles.

Life usually uses them to pass our time.

I volunteered to help Marshall a pedal bike event and today’s cycle was cycles.

The event is called Little Red. It’s a Lady’s only series of bike courses in lengths of 27, 35, 50, 70, and 100 miles. They are not races but set courses with break stops, lunch, repair crews, SAG trucks, and course Marshalls.

The event numbered 3500 participants and their bikes.

I showed up for the fulfillment of my duties as a ride marshall and found my Yamaha and me surrounded by curious glares from the group of BMW riders.

I have a cruiser that might to the untrained eye be confused with a Harley Davidson. BMW and Harley guys are not the friendliest to each other. I was somewhat accepted once it became claimed that I rode a Non-Harley. Then a Harley showed. Harley riders generally don’t like “Metrics” either.

One BMW guy admitted that they had a Gold Winger in the group. A tone of charity on his voice. I can’t explain the Gold Wing thing even with a blog post of its own. Let’s just say they’re like your odd cousin that you only see every 3-4 years and have nothing in common but a relation that you’re not sure how to explain to someone outside of your family.

A couple of Ducati’s showed. Most riders are kind of cool with the Italian bikes. It’s hard for me to see how they’re so different from other bikes but I get the impression that their owners think they do. “Duck” owners I believe don’t think much of non-ducks, but they never express it.

Somehow the ragtag group of Motor-cycles got it together and marshalled the ride of the Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, and various other types of pedal bikes used today.

The event ended, I packed up my bike and headed home.

On the way home I stopped for gas. Waiting to pull out of the gas station, a trio of bikes passed. There was something different about them. Obviously Harley, the three rode in a tighter formation than typical weekend warrior riders. I set out to investigate.

As I neared from behind, I noticed the three part patchwork on the back of their jackets. MC members. A real MC. The bad asses. The real McCoy. The ones the weekend group tries to dress like. I neared enough to see the name of the club and followed at a distance for a few miles.

The group slowed and I quickly caught up to them. I’d like to think they wanted to know who tailed them. I maintain my speed and passed them from the right lane.

As I passed I nodded my head to say hello to the two on my side. We made eye contact and I got nods back. I could sense their disdain but I got an acknowledgement and that was cool.

Despite our differences, we share a commonality- the two wheels under our machines. That was enough for that moment.

From pedal bikes to Milwaukee to Europe to Japan to MC Bikers. I think I ran the Cycle Cycle today.

 

Day 103

Smile

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Hey Kids,

On the way home, I skim along the edges and cut across the mouth of one of the seven canyons of the Salt Lake Valley, City Creek Canyon.

It’s a one way road for motorized vehicles. The other half of the road is reserved for walkers, joggers and pedal bikers. It’s a nice stretch of road to unwind from the day.

The other day and for no reason for which I can recall, I felt a smile form on my face. It just popped out of nowhere. The joy ride took over I guess. But it was a BIG smile.

Riding in the opposite direction, a lady pedaled her bicycle. Our eyes met and she erupted in a smile as wide as mine. I’m sure she wondered what had me so happy but I imagine the novelty of seeing someone so apparently happy forced the equal reaction from her.

I, of course, laughed next and had that thought in my head the rest of the way home and couldn’t help but smile and laugh.962d9fde452736de6fd1da532a301ba2

It made my day.

Maybe I just need to smile more. Smile more freely. Smile like a monkey with a new banana.

And maybe I just did.

 

Day 102

Ride Safe and Ride On

mikemjensen Motorcycles Tags: , 1 Comment

Hey Kids,

This year there has been an inordinate number of motorcyclist killed on the roads of Utah (45 in 2014).

Safe is not a word you immediately associate with riding a motorcycle. In fact, if you want to be safe, buy a 5-Star rated Volvo with full airbags and drive it only during non-peak traffic hours. And as little as possible. It’s still not perfect but it’s pretty safe.

Motorcycles put you out there, unprotected. Riders need to remember and admit that we are one uneven lane, one gravel patch, one deer, one dog, one car driver with one text, one phone call, one run stop sign, or one erroneous left turn, away from a serious accident and possible death.1000028347491392339_2020125741

Motorcycles are not safe. All the “Start Seeing Motorcycles” window stickers are not going to change that. Has “Free Tibet”, a more likely scenario, worked?

Motorcyclists, however, can minimize the chance of kissing the pavement and taking that one last ride to the Motorcycle Only Heaven we hope exists. Here’s a few of my thoughts on the matter. It’s not all-inclusive or original; and just my humble opinions.

  1. No one sees you; act accordingly. Pretend you’re the “Invisible Bike”, fighting crime and protecting the citizenry. No one knows you’re there but still, you keep people safe from causing a fatality thanks to your cunning skills and preventative positioning and anticipation. You’re alive and they never knew it.
  2. Learn how to ride. Riding bikes is cool, it’s even cooler when you know what you’re doing and have control of your machine. Take a class and stick with bikes you can handle. Know your limits and stay inside of them. And the best part- Practice. Get as many drive hours as humanly possible. That’s homework we all can live with.
  3. Wear some gear. It doesn’t really make you safer, but if you thinking less of, or riding scared of going down, you can concentrate on riding upright.
    1. Helmets. Wearing one can keep you speaking in complete sentences if you do go head over heels. I’m against helmet laws because I think we as motorcyclist should be smarter than that and do it on our own. Half, ¾, or full; just put one one. I’m also a free-will kind of guy- so if you don’t wear one, you’ll never hear a peep from me. But I might wonder about you.
    2. Riding gear. Ask yourself, what do I want between me and the road if I go down? Answers will vary and being a motorcyclist, I really don’t care what your answer is, so long you don’t care about my mine. Like helmets- it’s a choice and what you wear might depend on how you ride. I’m not the poster child for MSF when it comes to gear. I don’t always wear my riding jacket but when I do, I look styling. Just saying. Boots are a great idea and keep you from rolling your heel and supporting the bike at stops. But then again, Jax Teller looked pretty cool in his white tennies.
    3. Gloves. These are mandatory for me. Rocks and bees at 70 MPH hurt like a mother when they smash into your knuckles and can greatly distract you from staying on the straight and narrow as it pertains to your lane. Stray not, brothers and sisters. Wear gloves.

I love riding. I will ride as long as this body allows me. I love the feel of the road, the sound of the engine, and the roar of the wind in my ears. I open it up when I can. I ride year round if the ice and snow are cleared and I’ve yet to experience a day too hot to ride.

I wave to other riders but I ride for me. I know it’s dangerous and I’m OK with that. I’m just not a Volvo guy.

Day 101

100

mikemjensen Writing Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

As you might notice, the note at the bottom of this page reads Day 100. But why?1024px-Usdollar100front

I believe in following good advice.

In this case, it’s the advice or example of Seth Godin. I make no excuses for it. Seth shares advice, wisdom, and insight freely and I have found it valuable.

He writes a daily blog. One blog post per day. Every day. For years now. Somewhere in his daily posts, he challenged others to try it. I have. For 100 days now.

On a daily basis, it has likewise challenged me to look around me and find something worthwhile to write. My wish is that others enjoy it, but I admit that the primary goal was to force me to look deeper into each day to find something to share, and about which to write.

As you may have also noticed, I start each post with “Hey Kids”. I share with all, but to help me remember the value of those who take time to read my writings, I address the posts to my kids. The five of them. I hope that when the dark time of our separation is ended, my thoughts of what I wished I had shared with them is left as a receipt for them to read.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think of them, and this blog gives me release of those thoughts and stretched end to end- I hope this blog illustrates who I am, or was.

My goal is to continue this blog till it is no longer possible. I invite all to follow along. I know you may not be able or willing to drop in everyday, but know that every day I’ll be here and you’re invited.

And now, on to 101.

 

Day 100

Volunteering

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Hey Kids,

Volunteering.

Something actually happens. At least for me.

When I give away my time and help a person or cause, or in this case an event; and get no remuneration I still seem to feel compensated.

So many want my money, it’s refreshing for someone to want my time, my effort, or my help. I feel rich. I feel needed. And it lets me feel generous. I walk away feeling good about myself.one-does-not-mhgzco

In so many environments, the feeling is the opposite. For me, it’s mostly a feeling of inadequacy; not having enough, afraid to run out, exhausted at so many requests. But I can spare a little time for good reason.

I’m not trying to get on a soap box here and saying anyone else should do like I’m doing. That’s not my way. Plus there are people who are far more generous with volunteering than me.

No, I’m just saying I enjoy it, and thought I would share. I’m generous like that too.

 

Day 99

I Start; Therfore, I Win

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Hey Kids,

I saw that a woman, aged 92, recently finished a marathon. She became the oldest woman to do so. Ever.

It reminded me of a friend of mine. He competed in the Senior Games and ran marathon as late as his early nineties. Last time I spoke with him, he was still planning to compete again this past summer.

A few years back, when he was but an octogenarian lad, he ran the Salt Lake City Marathon. He finished and finished first in his age group. He admitted that his total time was not anything of which to brag and while on the course he saw several people he knew that could’ve easily beat his time. Had they competed, that is.How_to_start_a_business_crop

He won because he raced when others did not.

In addition, he won because he raced.

No one has ever won that never starts.

And Sid said so.

 

Day 98

Update on Uncle Harold

mikemjensen Gratitude, Shame on Me Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

A quick update on the work I believe is owed to the headstone of Uncle Harold, killed in WWII.

We attacked the headstone with a turf knife and got the edges cut back some. I think some more might be needed but it was a good start.

We brought water and wetted the stone and added some simple dish detergent.

With a stiff brush we began to remove the years of over growth staining. It’ll take a few times and I’ll do some better investigation on maybe some better methods, but for now, I think the progress is good.

I’d be more than open to suggestions to help the process along.

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IMG_20150531_164234_023 

 

Day 97