Sometimes They Do More Than Just Stare at the Screen

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Hey Kids,

You never know what sticks in your head from when you were a kid. Yesterday, I discovered one such sticky memory.

Not feeling too well the past few days, I stuck to the couch and relied on Amazon Prime Video to keep me company. I cruised through the vast array of items available and focused on motorcycle shows. I’m so predictable.maxresdefault

After watching the Fastest Indian, I saw a movie that sounded vaguely familiar, “C.C. and Company”. A 1970 film starring Broadway Joe Namath and Ann Margret.

For whatever reason, the opening scene of walking through the grocery store and fixing his own sandwich cracked me up and I thought, “Wait a minute, I think I’ve seen this.”

I continued to watch and the scenes hinted at recall but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. And then it happened.

CC gets in a fight over whether he deserves to keep any of his winnings from the motocross race he attempted. He loses the fight and the money but then steals the money back that night and takes off.

For some strange reason, that scene has played in my mind throughout my many years. I remembered it almost perfectly, except that I didn’t remember that it was Joe Namath. I had watched the movie on some week night TV movie, the ones they used to show at 7:00 like on a Tuesday.

The scene, I thought was so unfair. The fact that he couldn’t keep part of what he earned but had to give to others who hadn’t earned it really bothered me. He was willing to share with the gang but wanted to save a little for himself. Maybe buy another dirt bike and make more money. Maybe buy a new chopper. (Which the bikes in the movie all looked so small compared to today’s bikes; but that’s another subject).

I despised the gang leader for demanding it all. I was happy when he stole it back. Actually, as a kid, I didn’t remember exactly how he did steal it back: I must’ve been younger than I should’ve been to watch that movie (he he).

Before this post goes on forever, I believe that scene formed an idea in my head that I learned or had confirmed. You deserve the rewards when you do things beyond what everyone else is willing to do. You earn success and you owe no one for your efforts.

I have always been taught to work hard for what I seek and desire. And I think that learning comes a little beyond a 1970 “B” movie. It came from those around me, from my own experiences, and my own convictions. I just think it’s hilarious that a scene and a movie can stick with me all these years.

And you thought I was just a dumb kid who was trying to avoid his homework.

 

Day 56

Curves Ahead

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Hey Kids,

The first of this week, the air turned cold on a strong front that moved in. Car and semi’s crashed and closed down the Interstate, trees blew over, roofs were ripped from their buildings, and snow fell; in some places in large amounts.curves-ahead-sign-225x300

Today, the sun is out, the forecast is in the 70’s and apart from the items damaged from the storm, there is no indication that a winter type storm hit just a few days ago.

It’s similar how our lives go.

 

Day 55

What Can It Hurt?

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Hey Kids,

We didn’t have to.

No one would’ve known any different.be-kind

It took extra time.

It took a little gas.

We knew it wasn’t so much for us as it was for him.

But my brother and I did a little detour today on our motorcycle ride and visited an uncle who hasn’t been in the best of health. We spent a whole 15 minutes but he seemed to enjoy the idea that we would just drop by and say hi.

Why not take the opportunities to be kind to others people and make them feel good?

I promise, you’ll feel better too.

 

Day 54

Hemmingway Did Not Mean It.

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Hey Kids,

I’m a writer. I write books. Not a lot yet, but I have a couple available.

I spend a lot of my free time writing. I write first drafts, I edit, and I work on the extra things like covers, descriptions, marketing, etc.

It’s my second job.

It can be difficult to figure out how to write things so they are understood as you meant them to be understood; the reader shouldn’t have to guess. It’s difficult to leave the room while others are watching something you would like to watch as well but you need to write. It’s difficult to work when it seems a good time to take a nap but you need to write. When you need to write, there are a bazillion other things that might be more fun, but that’s part of the second job thing. Nobody gets to skip their cashier job at Kwiki-Mart because there’s a new season of Game of Thrones starting. Why would a writer get a medal for writing, i.e. doing his or her job?

Writing, however, is not digging ditches; in fact, it’s much easier. It’s not mystical. There are practices that help people “get in the mood”, but these are all self-inflicted. Magic pixie dust will not be withheld because you forgot to wear your inspirational multicolored socks.

Get over it. Writing is writing words and conveying stories, messages, or information. It’s talking with your fingers on a keyboard. Sometimes it’s amazing what lies in wait to be tapped in one’s head. But in the end, that stuff was already in your head- you just let it out because you decided to write.

Write because you love it. Write because it’s your job. No one holds a gun to your head and no one will.Write-Bleed

Funny, but no blood required.

Just write.

 

Day 53

Expected Unexpected

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Hey Kids,

Heavy snow hit us today. Heavy as in wet and heavy as in a lot of it for this time of year. Officially, it was reported as 1-3” but with the lake effect snow, some places got a lot more than that and the mountains got over a foot.

It was predicted and yet it took people by surprise. I was no different. I knew it was coming and knew it was to hit yesterday and continue over night. And yet I still believed that I would ride my motorcycle in to work today. I was wrong and greatly disappointed this morning.sne_i_beijing_20_marts_2013_1_2

I settled for a ride into work with my honey. All the way in, I muttered how the roads weren’t so bad and I could’ve rode in and she kept pointing out all the slush and saying I couldn’t have. She eventually told me to stop my belly aching, and I did. I rode the bus home and started reading a new book. I will be on the bus and not riding tomorrow as well.

The snow hasn’t stop at all today and is to continue through the night. I’m sad because I’ve been spoiled by a mild winter, and it’s April 15th!

The amazing thing out of this storm, however, is not the storm. It can snow here in April and one should expect that realistic possibility through mid-May. The amazing thing is how people forget. People think that it’s crazy and unprecedented. So when the forecast calls for snow, we don’t believe it. We take no preparations for it, and act shocked and appalled when snow happens.

Like the weather as in all things, know the reality. Prepare for the unlikely but possible. Take it like a trooper. And in this case, know that’ll only last a short time and everything will be back to normal. Or did we already forget about global warming?

 

Day 51

Pony Express Rides Again

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Hey Kids,ponyexpress

Apparently I chose the wrong anniversary to celebrate when it came to the Pony Express. I marked the 155th anniversary of the mail leaving St. Joseph, Missouri and Google celebrated the 155th Anniversary of those same letters arriving in San Francisco. It’s OK, I’ll enjoy it twice.

I know I eluded to in my post on April 3rd, but today I heard it stated as clear as it could be.

I mentioned that I wonder if I would have had, or if I have, the grit to be a rider. Today I heard it remarked that the biggest reason that the Pony Express Legacy lives on, is because deep down inside, we all wish we had done it.

Yessir, I do. I wish I had done it. I’m afraid I wouldn’t have, but I wish I had. One day, up there, when we’re all sitting around talking of our earth days, I’m going to hunt down one of those riders and listen to his stories and live the experience by proxy.

In Heaven?

I know that some of these fellas may have been a little rough around the edges, but if my God is who I hope he is, Pony Express riders will have a free pass into heaven, just for the hell of it all.

 

Day 50

When You’re Not Working

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Hey Kids,

I’m not one of those guys who have to watch the off-season like it matters. I can barely keep up with watching the actual games, let alone trying to find out who showed up when to training camp, who got traded, and who got cut. I have too many things going on.

I do get caught up in some of the news and occasionally I like to check in and see if anything exciting that might affect the season happened. This past week, I got hooked on NFL organized practices press conferences.hard-work

In one interview, a second year player spoke of the difference of the rookie year when compared to the second year. The press lobbed the question to him and he answered that it really didn’t matter what year it was, he just had to work hard and get better at the things he could get better at, which was everything.

He’s a sincere guy. Humble family upbringing, soft spoken, and complimentary to everyone around him. But in regards to working hard he drew on a statement his father had told him that he uses as his motivation.

He said his daddy told him “When you’re not working, someone else is.”

This world will pass you by if you let it. Your spot isn’t assured. Get out and out-work the rest of them and good things will happen. If nothing else happens, you’ won’t have to worry whether or not you tried hard enough. And that puts you in some elite company and leaves you with no regrets.

 

Day 49

Sporting Bikes Day

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Hey Kids,

A little odd for a Sunday activity but today a local motorcycle shop had a re-grand opening event and I had to attend.11150319_843203779085992_5920618616640748375_n

There were at last count I heard 187 bikes that showed up for the 4 hours of activities, raffles and ride along. I stayed for the entire event. Well almost.

On most rides I have attended, cruisers make up the majority of the bikes. This day it was a Sport Bike day and the only thing numbering less than non-Sport bikes was Harley Davidson’s.

At the end of the 4 hour event, we prepared to head out for a parade of the town. Instructions given reminded us all of the hand signals and the one they stressed and seem to illicit the most reaction was the “Cop nearby” signal. We passed several on our trip through the Sunday-quiet little town and the signal was loud and proud.

We “lined” up for the start of the ride and despite the instructions to proceed in a staggered formation, the line up looked and sounded more like of a swarm of wasps.

The short parade was pure chaos. Bikes swarmed in and out of the lanes. Bikes slowed and raced back forward to fill the gap. Following distances were flaunted, traffic lights ignored and old men cursed us from the sidewalk. One old man actually made a gesture as if he was shooting us all down which actually drew more smiles than offences.

We met back up at the shop to regroup and head out on our target, open road ride. This is where my involvement ended. My brother and I chose our own ride and headed out before the rest of them left.

I’m not complaining. No, I firmly believe to each their own and when it comes to MC’s, everyone should do what they want to do. But the Sport Bike guys are crazy and I’m too old for that kind of crazy. I enjoyed the hell out of the day but when it comes to riding together, we’re a water and oil thing; two things great at what they are intended to do, but not really at the same time.

Sport Bike guys, I love ya. I love your machines. I love your passion. I love the pure joy you all have on two wheels, sometime one. But my CBR600 days are my past and my cruiser days are my today. I’ll just wave at you as you speed along and cheer you on your wicked curve handling. Just give me a nod as you buzz by and cheers to us all.FB_IMG_1428887469933-1

It’s ok to be different and it’s ok to play on different playgrounds every once in a while. Just don’t try to change those playgrounds because you’re not used to the way they play. There’s plenty of time to do it all.

 

Day 48

Self Talk

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2076450897_be1b8ace7c_zHey Kids,

Whoever said that no man is an island has never seen me in a swimming pool.

I keep to myself for the most part. I like people so long as I don’t “have to” have interaction. I’m quiet in groups, more than willing to let others talk at meetings, and am more inclined to stay home than go to parties. I do like to talk but not necessarily to other people.

Yesterday I met with my brother and we had dinner together at a local popular burger joint. It was his birthday the other day and I owed him. We ended up sitting and talking for over 5 hours. And I would say it was pretty much split 50/50 on who was talking.

We covered a number of things with nothing extraordinary; just Bro talk. Family, jobs, cars, bikes, and the like. We also talked a little about our futures and what we had coming up and what we hope would happen in the ever shortening long run.

As a writer, I spend a lot of time in my own head. This blog is one way to get out a little but it’s still talking into an open mic with no ear piece. But I find that, from time to time, it’s good to spend time with fellow humans and to say things out loud.

During one of my turns to talk yesterday, I shared my writing goals and in the midst of sharing, I told myself the theme of a possible 5th book in the OPR series. I had never had or heard the idea before.

I know it’s a brave thing to talk about book 5 when I’m writing book 2 of a book that only me and my mother have read (exaggeration, but not by much)(OK, exaggeration again but only by a little). Anyway, it is odd to talk of book 5, but it made books 3 and 4 become a given. Their possibility of becoming real happened because in order to have a book 5, 3 and 4 have to exist.

I struggle at times to see the big picture. Talking out loud told me that I do see it, I do believe it, and more importantly, I do want it. I don’t think I would have come up with it without speaking out loud to my brother and hearing the words sounding in my ears.

Maybe this is just living in my own head again but in another way. Maybe my brother didn’t have to be there. But the fact remains that the idea didn’t happen until he was.

Despite who you are, what you do, or how weird you might be; time spent with fellow human beings can be a good thing. Even if self-serving.

 

Day 47