It was one year ago today when I wrote in my very first post here, "I don't know how much I'll write here. Starting up a new blog was something I wasn't truly sure I wanted to do. I'm still not sure but stick around and we'll see if something worthwhile emerges."
I wrote more in this past year than I thought I might. As for the worthwhile part of it, it's been good for me. Whether what I write on a particular day is worth reading is always open to debate, but overall the writing itself is cathartic. There are things that go on in my life that I would never address here. Nevertheless, writing itself helps me to keep my head on straight sometimes, and so I write whether or not I have something to say about scootering.
I got out of work early yesterday after a relieving meeting about next year and since we were between thunderstorms I ventured out to one of the parks in which now and then I like to sit and compose a blog post "on the road" in the summer. I had the place all to myself and realized for the first time that I truly enjoy the solitude I experience on most of my scooter excursions. I'm sociable enough and like being in groups, but I've always valued my alone time too and the kind of it that I get while out riding is unique.
I know that I've said it before that I find myself more introspective on the cycle than I'd be if I were alone at the house, and I'm least conscious of my need to dig into my brain when I need to the most. Perhaps that's what ties the scootering into the writing for me - somehow they're related in the thinking I do in my lifelong quest to understand myself. My first degree, in psychology, was supposed to have figured myself out for me. At over double the age I was when I graduated from college, I'm more confused than I was then, but that's okay. I'm functional in spite of not having a clue about who this guy who lives inside me is, and I get bonus points for riding a scooter!
I know that I've said it before that I find myself more introspective on the cycle than I'd be if I were alone at the house, and I'm least conscious of my need to dig into my brain when I need to the most. Perhaps that's what ties the scootering into the writing for me - somehow they're related in the thinking I do in my lifelong quest to understand myself. My first degree, in psychology, was supposed to have figured myself out for me. At over double the age I was when I graduated from college, I'm more confused than I was then, but that's okay. I'm functional in spite of not having a clue about who this guy who lives inside me is, and I get bonus points for riding a scooter!
I'm waiting for the final bell to ring on the current academic year. It will sound tomorrow. Being a teacher was never something I thought about doing when I was a kid. In fact, it would have been among the least likely things I'd have considered as a career. I didn't particularly like school as a kid because I was relatively smart and bored to tears most days. When Johnny and Tommy and Bruce and a few others in my grade school class of near 50 took their turns to read I could have pulled out all of my own hair and then started in on theirs as I listened to them stumble over "the," and "there," and just about every other word in their respective paragraphs. Even now those memories of my less than stellar classmates are with me in that the vanity plate on my scooter is related to Gerry Dee's comedy riff about the kid who frustrated his whole class while trying to read, "And then the bear liked the honey." Now, just about every day I listen to the Johnnys, Tommys, and Bruces who could be my own grandchildren. I smile, I encourage them, I love them to pieces. Nope. Not something I'd have dreamed of doing long ago, and now - I couldn't imagine doing anything else to pay for my spot on the planet.
The kids often ask at the end of a school year, "What will you do over the summer?" My stock answer: "As little as I can get away with doing." I live frugally enough so that I don't have to take a job during the off time from school. I love the time off though after about two weeks I'll start to get bored and begin to work on some things for the next school year. And, I'll ride. I have no plans for any epic journeys on the scooter. Although I might scope out a new road somewhere with a choke hold on the GPS, for the most part I'll be whizzing up and down the familiar roads that I travel as often as I can get out. I'll get my hair cut a few times, I'll take some weekend vacations, I'll watch my new grass grow, and continue to look for the dog who's supposed to meet me at the door but who never will again.
The snow shovels seem to be working magic on the grass seeds!A heap of thanks to all of you who touch my life here with your visits, the wisdom and laughs you share in your comments and mails, and with your links from there to here. A special thanks to Joe who came with me from another chapter in my life to here. Though we've yet to break bread or raise a glass together, he's one of the best friends I have.
Stay tuned! There might be another year's worth of this stuff in me somewhere.
Stay tuned! There might be another year's worth of this stuff in me somewhere.
9 comments:
You look pretty dapper next to that nice scoot of yours!
Congrats on the anniversary. Keep it up. Lots of us like to read about you.
I am new to this myself and I connected a bit about your thoughts about starting your blog. I will reach double digits in number of posts sometime this month. Have been enjoying the heck out of it so far. Lots of ideas popping into my head about future blog posts. Has revived my photography interest a bit as well, which had become a bit dormant.
But the most fun has been the writing. It has given me a chance to be a bit more creative in my writing, rather than the normal type of writing that I do at work which can be rather technical in nature.
Wish I could get a summer vacation.
Thanks, Jim!
I wish everybody could get a summer vacation. I feel the sorriest for those folks who most vociferously begrudge me mine. They need one the most.
Joe
When they spoke of breaking up summer vacation, I was aghast. I really enjoy having the kids off for two months to do things.Two months of not having their projects to worry about clothing,meals, schedules.I think kids also need down time to do nothing.
Teachers have it great cause they can do so much during summer.Most of the ones I know explore and then bring what they find to enlighten the children during the year. This is how I learned about rock polishing. They even told the kids where to get the stuff, from which beaches.I enjoyed doing these things with the kids.
Looking into the eyes of children gives you a clear vision to the future and it brings you a lot of joy.
Much different than working with people at the other end of the spectrum who you make friends with and then have to say good bye to. That hurts a lot.
My teachers were smart. They would punish me into a library corner and I would sit there and read all the books I wanted while she dealt with kids who struggled with reading.
I always loved school for the friendships and enlightenment I searched from, from people I respected.
Highschool was a lot different.It was a wake up call. No one cared about students. They cared about salary, unions,politics. No one cared about excellence in classrooms.Knowing we had math finals, they sat with feet up on tables reading the stock market reports because they wanted more money.Kids were tools, scape goats. They cared about uniforms and making you walk the line.
So I was only too glad to finish and fly out of there.lol They left me with feelings of mistrust, anger and seeing the system as just basically being pathetic.
I could never understand why teachers would work in a place they didn't like.Some didn't know how to teach and only came for their coffee breaks.But then there were a few, who made all the difference.:)
"I could never understand why teachers would work in a place they didn't like."
I don't understand why anyone works in a place he doesn't like. That's got to be the worst living hell a person can have - a job that he hates.
-Joe
great post professor and that first picture gives you a Majestic look
Happy Anniversary...I like your blog
Why does motoring around on two wheels have an uncanny way of making one open to thought? Thanks for the read and Have another great year of writing.
I for one am glad for another year of your down to earth insights and Seinfeldesque spin on life's oddities.
Happy Anniversary! I've enjoyed reading your posts through the year, and thanks again for the tip on Panera's - it's a favorite of the family, and the free wifi is awesome!
Congratulations on surviving your first year of blogging. The blogscape is littered with those of less fortitude that you have shown.
I've got to try that Plastix stuff myself. The Mrs. has a scratch int he windscreen of her Helix that I've not been able to remove yet. Too, I've always said that a clean bike is a happy bike and a happy bike won't let you down.
Doug
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