Triumph America
Personal history. It’s not valued enough. In a culture with dazzling tools to document and record, I find it amazing how superficial much of its production can be. Details without soul, stories without feeling. When I first started being asked why I blog it was difficult for me to answer. The notion that I was building a personal history wasn’t on the radar. The eclectic collection of images and text were an exercise in documentation with neither goal or objective.
Blogging was nothing more than a satisfying pastime.
The photograph of me with the Triumph America motorcycle was made almost nine years ago. Before the heart attack. When I could still grow long hair. I remember that machine and how much I disliked it. How poorly it performed in a heavy crosswind while heading south down the valley before surrendering to a thread of a secondary road where I could ride slower.
Writing personal history. It’s a skill that has grown and matured over the years through practice and willingness to look beyond the surface of events, thoughts and feelings.
I believe there’s great value in recording a personal history — for me, and for others. In the coming weeks I’m going to pose questions in this area regarding some projects I have in mind. Questions I hope that others can help illuminate a path forward.
Personal History on the Internet
I was going through old posts I stumbled across a reference to 2strokebuzz, a scooter related news site that I remember for an annual winter riding competition. A search of their site revealed a number of Scooter in the Sticks references which got me thinking about personal history in the first place. It’s a list of things I had written but now forgotten — still living on the web.
I often look to my blog to find dates and events; when we got Lily, had a heart attack, or any number of other experiences. The blog is a catalog of experience illuminated by the thoughts and frustrations of life mixed in.
I find value in doing this. Personal value. Writing, making photographs, and posting them here tends to burn memories and reveal issues. It’s not just about riding a Vespa. It’s about living a life. Or more precisely, about remembering the life being lived.
It’s easy to fly through the days moving from chore to chore, expectation to expectation. Blogging is like Hansel and Gretl dropping bread crumbs so they remember the way.
I don’t want to get lost.
A few years ago I taught a course focused on using a blog to illuminate some aspect of life. Could be artwork, travel, personal reflections, photography or any number of desires and activities a person might engage.
I’ve been sketching out notes to build an online course along the lines of that course I taught. Not sure what I think about it. Sometime soon I’m going to post a survey asking for opinions of readers here about the online course and a number of other projects I have in mind.
I’ve written a log chronicling my sea days, in port and on passage. Weather, course, speed, reefs put in or shaken out, but most of all, the mystery of being alone with a force that really doesn’t care if you’re along for the next wave or not.
Then I read James Thurber.
I used to read a lot of sea stories. Last I remember is, “My Old Man and the Sea.” Having done some blue water sailing I can related to the mysteries of nature and the force of the ocean. Sounds like you weren’t spoiled with an autorolling feature for reefing the main sail.
James Thurber. I’ve probably been more emotionally wrecked by him than any other author. My parents had a book of Thurber dog stories on a shelf in our library. As a kid, perhaps eight or nine, I read a story that haunted me then and does so now. I searched for the end of that story and while reading it my heart moved into my throat. It’s probably just me. The story — “Snapshot of a Dog” — informs my belief of the better nature of man and beast. Here’s the passage below. Thanks for the reminder…
“Even death couldn’t beat him down. He died, it is true, but only, as one of his admirers said, after “straight-arming the death angel” for more than an hour. Late one afternoon he wandered home, too slowly and uncertainly to be the Rex that had trotted briskly homeward up our avenue for ten years. I think we all knew when he came through the gate that he was dying. He had apparently taken a terrible beating, probably from the owner of some dog that he had got into a fight with. His head and body were scarred. His heavy collar with the teeth marks of many a battle on it was awry; some of the big brass studs in it were sprung loose from the leather. He licked at our hands and, staggering, fell, but got up again. We could see that he was looking for someone. One of his three masters was not home. He did not get home for an hour. During that hour the bull terrier fought against death as he had fought against the cold, strong current of Alum Creek, as he had fought to climb twelve-foot walls. When the person he was waiting for did come through the gate, whistling, ceasing to whistle, Rex walked a few wobbly paces toward him, touched his hand with his muzzle, and fell down again. This time he didn’t get up.”
I refer back to my blog for dates and events, too. I’ve often thought to myself that I should share more thoughts and feelings on my blog, but that’s usually overridden by my thinking that others don’t really care to know so much. Of course that leads to the question, am I writing the blog for myself or for others? That’s a question I have yet to answer fully. I think you do a great job adding depth to your posts.
You raise an important issue — do others care? For a personal blog, it doesn’t matter. I feel I’m doing this for myself. Not to satisfy an audience. If someone is or isn’t interested doesn’t matter.
It’s all tricky business and personally, I don’t believe there is a right or wrong approach.
I’ve been thinking about writing a small family history for my heirs. I found a lot of “interesting” characters when I looked into our genealogy a few years ago.
Do you think we find a need to get things written down as we grow older? I have written how to make coffee, where our accounts are, how to find the good porn sutes (just kidding!), in case I don’t get home from a motorcycle ride and my spouse has that awful lack-of-caffeine headache.
It will be fun going on this journey with you!
I wish I knew more from my family history. Aside from some mechanical and technical details, I don’t really know much at all about my parents let alone theirs. It’s too late now for that. But I can do something from this point forward.
Keep coming home. Don’t make your spouse have to make their own cup of coffee…
I’m trying to remember how long ago it was when I first ran across your blog. I have no idea….. Let’s see my youngest is 28 – I bought the Riva when he was 15= when did I join the Year Round Riders? I still don’t know I just want you to know I am always a little excited when I am eating breakfasting I see an email telling me you have a new blog post.
You can count on me to be of help with anything you might ask…..As long as it doesn’t include that plan to break into Fort Knox.
Year Round Riders. I used to post there. Forgot about that site. I used to spend a lot more time looking at various forums and sites but time has become a bigger and bigger issue. Maybe that will change in retirement.
Glad to know I can offer some breakfast reading. Probably marginally better than reading the cereal box.
I’m still gathering my thoughts before I ask for input from people. Soon though.
“How We Got to Now” …..maybe ur blog will help u understand how YOU got to now…wish I would have kept a life logbook.
Got to Now. Love that.
I have a ton of journals spanning back to my teenage years. I seldom think about them. Look at them even less. But the blog — I can search and find things easily.
I’ll try and not post the sort of drivel that ends up in my Moleskine journals…
Fun but tedious book…then tedious PBS viewing…
Fun but tedious. That’s an odd combination. I’ll have to investigate further.
Read the book
Our local library has it. I’ll pick it up. Read a review in the New York Times — it describes the book as mesmerizing and fatiguing as you follow things through time.
Looking forward to it. Thanks for the heads up.
Fun and tedious…close ehhh? All hail NYT
Not all I think. For some the New York Times stands at the pinnacle of reliable journalism. For others it slithers in the devious liberal swamp as fake news. Quite a divide…
U referred to nyt..not me…
david brooks humbles me…streams in the PA mountains make me smile.
History becomes more interesting as I get closer to being so.
The NYT was the first review in my Google search. David Brooks is a great writer. I tried to read one of his pieces this evening but I’ve hit my limit of free articles. I might have to subscribe…
After many years if not decades of pursuing a vocation, a passion, or even a hobby; I am sure that each of us amass a plethora of valuable experience relating to it. To write a collection of stories or guides based on that life experience, whether in book form, blog form, video form, or what have you, will certainly benefit others IMHO.
I agree. Everyone has skills and experiences of value to others. Putting them in a form others can engage is a challenge though.
“remembering a life being lived”…..I like that.
and yes, my blog helps me remember things or locations or experiences….
And you can search and find things. I love my media library in WordPress. I can search that database and almost instantly find what I want. The blog forces levels of organization that would not occur otherwise.
Hmm, I think that certain things from the past may be of a use, such as the lessons learned while riding a motorcycle (so we don’t repeat the same mistakes). At the same time going into the past is of a little value. Life is here and now. Things continue evolving and changing. What was though as “fun” or “nice” or “romantic” can be seen as foolish with more wisdom.
While I agree that life only exists now, the reality is it’s nearly impossible to stay in the “now”. It’s a fast current that requires supreme attention as it sweeps past. But well worth the effort.
The past does have value as a point of reference which helps to make sense of now. Especially for those doomed to repeat yesterday over and over today. We’re conscious of the past, present and future for a reason (what that might be is beyond my understanding) and perhaps worth exploring.
My opinion anyway.
Hmm, not the usual subject matter for a scooter blog…. *grin*
Steve,
I do so love pretty much anything your write. The fact that it contains motorcycles is just an added plus. The fact that we are both past a half a century old, ride motorcycles, love dogs and share heart issues makes you a close friend I have never met.
Life never turns out like we plan, or want- I thought when I finished by doctorate degree I would be happy to be “finished” with that part of my life.. Ummmm, did not work out that way.. Retirement did not work for me either- back at work full time just to keep busy and happy.
Sorry for the dribble, I just wanted you to know what your postings mean to me and how you have made a fellow in Baton Rouge very happy.
Stay Safe My Friend-
Safety Bob
Thank you Bob for such kind words of support. I appreciate them.
Where I work, we amidst a major shift in how we deliver education and engage our customers across Pennsylvania and beyond. A common refrain as we expand into digital delivery channels — video on the web, more web-based articles, online courses and access to print publications and face-to-face workshops via web sales and registration — I hear over and over how you can’t establish relationships online. Only face-to-face encounters can build relationships. I often joke that there are many divorced spouses that will attest that their former loved-ones did built relationships online. But seriously, as you say, you can create those “friends that you have never met.”
I believe people connect through shared interests and storytelling. I think that’s what happens here.
In terms of retirement — I have a lot of plans and it’s hard to imagine going back to work to keep busy. There are work projects that I would happily engage in retirement though. Time will tell.
Thanks again for your thoughtful comments. They help me, and I’m sure others, think about similar things in their lives.
It’s cold here this morning — 17F — but the sun is shining. Trying to decide if I want to ride to work…
This entry reminds me: I have two blogs in limbo and gathering dust bunnies (one on photography, the other about urban cycling) that I’ll want to jump-start one I’ve got another duck or two back in a row here. It is sort of interesting to see my words floating on that sea of electrons out there, still in plain sight (hmm…someone else throwing out nautical themes here…), after so much time has passed…and actually discover a few other people have even read ’em! I pay more attention to my journal, though, and I think the two mediums were in a kind of competition, which is why one fell back.
Blogs in limbo. Last night I reactivated one that I haven’t posted to since 2011. I had turned over ownership of the site to Penn State but they never did anything with it and eventually external blog sites fell outside our business model. Last night I regained ownership and made a post. I’m thinking after I retire I’ll use as a prompt to stay connected to my alma mater and to my place of employment for 43 years.
It is odd to see your words on the web from long ago. Makes you want to be careful what you say. A few weeks ago I saw some comments you made on the Rangefinder Forum many years ago regarding a post I did. Pre-Scooter in the Sticks I think.
I’ve never felt competition between journal and blog. If anything, the journal is the seed bed and the blog is the flower…
I use my blog in a similar fashion, motorcycle stuff, personal stuff, RV travels, and other random thoughts. But I need to get it better organized since I can more easily find stuff.
I really like the idea of a course to teach people about blogging. I think more people might if they had a clue how to start.
Organization — the bane of my existence. Why is that so difficult?
As I consider a blogging course, while having some basic technical stuff, it really is more focused on how it’s utilized toward a specific goal of personal history, memoir and illumination of experience. I have to think long and hard about building that..
You are born/hatched released from your mother, and then after a period hopefully long in terms of time, expire/die/you choose.
What happens between those eventualities is your journey. How you choose to recall events therein is your choice .I read both Scooter In The Stickse and as well ConchScooters
to remind myself of what is no more, for me.
No more motorcycling or anything else requiring vertical balance:, a cane and for longer distances a four wheeled walker are my constant companions. Disease in my case Lupus which goes into remission then reappears then hides and reappears is one problem, advanced cancer now in remission, the missing of a few internal bits and pieces, many years of chemo and now diabetes.
We all survive most the time in our own way. When the bloggers have good writing skills, the read is so much more enjoyable. When they are poor, interest in that specific blog disappears.
Regular blogging requires a certain mindset/skill/desire. Sometimes the “right” word is difficult, so in those situations photographs suffice to fill in the blanks so to speak. In both your blog and Mike’s (as above) dogs share the spotlight.
Suspect a blog fills a need, to be wanted/needed/required by those unknowns in the great world beyond.
Please continue as before, ignore those of us many years older and closer to our own date of expiry..
Hatched. Made me think of my father. He used to say I wasn’t born. Rather a crow flew over the house, shat on a rock, and out I hatched. Still makes me chuckle.
You’re right about recalling events is a choice. I suppose we all build our myths. I think about the photos I post. Or shoot. Seldom any other traffic in the pictures. Often that’s just the situation. But there are times when I wait for a clear image. Truth or myth?
I agree about writing skills make a read easy or hard. But if I wish there was something I could improve, it’s in the storytelling. In part, you need experience to have a story to tell. But the mechanics to telling the story — that’s an art and skill that I’m not comfortable with. Practice. And closely listening to others helps. Perhaps that pursuit is my life’s work…
You’re right about finding the “right” word being difficult. And at times I’ve resorted to an easy photo. The camera may be my communication crutch. I’ve seen other websites that fill the “right word” void with the addition of young women in pictures. They’re out of place and unrelated to the content. Just a lure…
Blogs do fill needs. Those needs are endless and run the spectrum from ego to sublime introspection and everything in between. I suppose they are no different than the people we meet. Everyone has there persona, story, etc. We connect or we don’t.
Unlike cans of soup, people don’t come with an expiration date lest they be waiting official execution. So we can all proceed as if that expiration date is far off and not a worry…
Hi Steve,
It’s a funny time we are living through, we take all the small daily,weekly,monthly and yearly changes with technology almost as if for granted has we live through it and it intertwines with our lives.
It’s a funny thing to say and I feel awkward saying it but has we well know this documentation of life will very likely live on far from our own mortal life and I think this is something great that we must thank technologies like the internet ect for.
Keep sharing Steve.
I do honestly get great pleasure from your pictures and words.
Personal stuff, well worth sharing.
Kind regards
Len
Technology changes so fast that it’s impossible to keep up with it. I find myself trying to corral my use in a narrow fashion and attempt to become proficient and utilize in a manner that provides some value to me or others. Otherwise, I’m like a bee going from flower to flower.
Thanks for the kind words about what I share. I find endless satisfaction riding. The photography and text that follows along pays its own rewards.