Good evening and welcome. I am, once again, very glad to have you drop by. It's been a few days since posting my last chapter and I've been delighted with the response. Thank you all for faithfully checking back from time to time. I've opened the bar and have most anything you'd care to drink. I even brought some pretzels and nuts so serve yourself and be comfortable as you read.
Before I talk about the quest mentioned in the title I'll give somewhat of an explaination. The "quest" I'm talking about comes about in the life of every person that lives to some degree of maturity. It always comes in the form of a question. I know I've asked this particular question almost countless times. So, before posting the rest of the chapter I'm going to give everyone a chance to respond by stating what they think the question is. You can respond by commenting on this blog or to the email address listed above. I'll wait a couple of days before posting another chapter that gives the answer. So, you all let me know what you think. .........And so it goes............
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
The ride unforgettable......
Good evening all. I'm happy to have you drop in and visit. Make yourselves comfortable. I hope you notice that I've opened the bar, although the only thing served is cranberry juice. Hey, don't complain, it's good for you. ( :-D ) Anyway, pull up a chair and relax as you read and sip the refreshing juice.
After some thought I decided to tell an amusing story that took place many years ago. Before you ask, yes, it really did happen. I was about 12 years old when we (the whole family) went, one Sunday afternoon, to visit an uncle and his family. In that family was two boys, one a bit older than I and the other about my age. After a while I became bored with our activities and decided to look around on my own. Behind their house I found a bicycle in very good condition, except for....not having a chain. I was intrigued with the possibilities. After contemplating my options for a little while I decided on the 'hill'. Let me at this point talk a little about the 'hill'. My uncle's house was located on a very firm and extremely well packed dirt road. In most places it was only wide enough for one vehicle. The house was at the bottom of a very long and very steep hill. The 'hill' was about 200 yards long, and as was previously mentioned, very steep. About halfway up the hill was a curve to the left and forest was on both sides of the road. I think you now have the picture in mind, right? The option I chose was to push the bicycle to the top of the 'hill', which took quite a while, as I had to stop several times to rest. However, having reached the top of the 'hill', and having counting to "3" approximately fifty three times, I took in a deep breath and shoved off on my, what turned out to be, very long and very quick journey. Let me add at this point that while pushing and wrestling the bicycle to the top of the 'hill' that all of the 'older folks' had decided to come out on the front porch and sit while they talked. They had hardly been seated when, yep, here I came. Let me remind you that the bicycle had no chain, which meant that not only could I not pedal but it also meant that I had no brakes. Not that brakes would have done very much good. When I reached the bottom of the 'hill', my intention was to push back to the top of the 'hill' and come down again. That, as it turned out, was a pipe dream. When I did indeed reach the bottom of the 'hill', I was going an estimated fifty to sixty miles an hour. My clothes and my hair were flapping and waving in the wind and it was hard to breath, as the wind was sucking the air right out of my mouth. So, there I was, streaking along with drool streaming out of my mouth and my eyes burning from the force of the wind. I remember being actually surprised with the effects of the high velocity air. I'm told that when I went by the 'old folks' stood up in astonishment. I didn't see them because I was so greatly focused on the road. I'm only glad that my Dad couldn't get his hands on me at the moment, that he had a little while to 'cool off'. Upon reaching the bottom of the 'hill' it eventually occurred to me that, since I didn't have a chain, I was going to have to coast till I rolled to a gentle stop. Looking back, I'm surprised that I'm not still on the bike and still coasting. I coasted, it seems, about one mile. That put me almost to the highway. Again, looking back, I was very fortunate to not have met a vehicle coming the other way. If I had I'd have had to head off into the woods that surrounded the road. Not a good prospect if one is going fifty miles an hour on a bicycle with no brakes. Let me not forget to mention that somewhere along the journey I went through a large cloud of gnats. I know this because I took about half of them with me plastered on my shirt, arms and face. Ahhh....the follies of youth. I'm sometimes amazed that we any live till adulthood. Such was the ride that was so unforgettable, to so many, for so long. ........And so it went.............
After some thought I decided to tell an amusing story that took place many years ago. Before you ask, yes, it really did happen. I was about 12 years old when we (the whole family) went, one Sunday afternoon, to visit an uncle and his family. In that family was two boys, one a bit older than I and the other about my age. After a while I became bored with our activities and decided to look around on my own. Behind their house I found a bicycle in very good condition, except for....not having a chain. I was intrigued with the possibilities. After contemplating my options for a little while I decided on the 'hill'. Let me at this point talk a little about the 'hill'. My uncle's house was located on a very firm and extremely well packed dirt road. In most places it was only wide enough for one vehicle. The house was at the bottom of a very long and very steep hill. The 'hill' was about 200 yards long, and as was previously mentioned, very steep. About halfway up the hill was a curve to the left and forest was on both sides of the road. I think you now have the picture in mind, right? The option I chose was to push the bicycle to the top of the 'hill', which took quite a while, as I had to stop several times to rest. However, having reached the top of the 'hill', and having counting to "3" approximately fifty three times, I took in a deep breath and shoved off on my, what turned out to be, very long and very quick journey. Let me add at this point that while pushing and wrestling the bicycle to the top of the 'hill' that all of the 'older folks' had decided to come out on the front porch and sit while they talked. They had hardly been seated when, yep, here I came. Let me remind you that the bicycle had no chain, which meant that not only could I not pedal but it also meant that I had no brakes. Not that brakes would have done very much good. When I reached the bottom of the 'hill', my intention was to push back to the top of the 'hill' and come down again. That, as it turned out, was a pipe dream. When I did indeed reach the bottom of the 'hill', I was going an estimated fifty to sixty miles an hour. My clothes and my hair were flapping and waving in the wind and it was hard to breath, as the wind was sucking the air right out of my mouth. So, there I was, streaking along with drool streaming out of my mouth and my eyes burning from the force of the wind. I remember being actually surprised with the effects of the high velocity air. I'm told that when I went by the 'old folks' stood up in astonishment. I didn't see them because I was so greatly focused on the road. I'm only glad that my Dad couldn't get his hands on me at the moment, that he had a little while to 'cool off'. Upon reaching the bottom of the 'hill' it eventually occurred to me that, since I didn't have a chain, I was going to have to coast till I rolled to a gentle stop. Looking back, I'm surprised that I'm not still on the bike and still coasting. I coasted, it seems, about one mile. That put me almost to the highway. Again, looking back, I was very fortunate to not have met a vehicle coming the other way. If I had I'd have had to head off into the woods that surrounded the road. Not a good prospect if one is going fifty miles an hour on a bicycle with no brakes. Let me not forget to mention that somewhere along the journey I went through a large cloud of gnats. I know this because I took about half of them with me plastered on my shirt, arms and face. Ahhh....the follies of youth. I'm sometimes amazed that we any live till adulthood. Such was the ride that was so unforgettable, to so many, for so long. ........And so it went.............
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Searching for Mike............
Good afternoon all. Yes, believe it or not, I'm actually on the web and posting a chapter on this blog. I know a lot of people have been wondering where I've been and why I haven't been posting. Well, I'll tell you the truth about it. (as soon as I know too) OK, all kidding aside, here it is. I just needed a break to figure out in which direction to take this endeavor. I've talked to some people and gotten some input and made a decision in that regard. So, if you all will kindly be patient with me, I promise that you'll all see as time goes on the result of that decision. I am going to be posting regularly on here. Although I've decided on the what I'm still deciding on the how. Exactly how I'll post what I'm going to write I'm still praying and meditating about. So, in short, later this evening, or maybe tomorrow, I'll be back with the first chapter in quite a while. I appreciate you're patience and willingness to inquire about myself and the blog. So.......I'll see you again in a little while. ............And so it goes...........
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