Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.

Autumn Melancholia

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Royal Enfield Himalayan on an autumn ride.
The weight of autumn melancholia is bearing down on me as I pause during a ride making another video.

Freud defined melancholia as a state of stuckness, about living with a loss so impoverishing that it paradoxically enriches you. Being melancholic, then, isn’t just about having the blues; it’s also about holding on to a lack that feeds you.

Two dogs racing through a field.
My dog Junior chasing a Border Collie through a field on a rainy day.

Autumn Melancholia Antidote

The photograph of our dog Junior in a game of chase is one that always makes me smile and tears away whatever might be weighing on me. He was our first Belgian Sheepdog and has been gone just a little over a year. When I see the image I’m reminded not only of the good life we offered him, but also the great gifts he gave us as well.

He was a fast friend, ever present companion, and always reminding us to squeeze a little more out of life. Exactly what’s necessary to combat the autumn melancholia that descends on me this time of year.

And even though the loss of Junior was rough, his absence oddly helps me along now.

Two Belgian Sheepdogs.
L-R: Lily and Aiden. Our Belgian Sheepdogs.

Dogs. Always Dogs

Lily is Junior’s niece. And Aiden is his great nephew. I see many qualities of Junior in Aiden.

Lily was to be our last dog but she became despondent with Junior gone. We didn’t want to go through raising another puppy and were concerned at our age that a young dog could outlive us. While talking with the Belgian breeder who we’ve gotten all of our Sheepdogs from she indicated that her current AKC Champion (Aiden) had been injured and could no longer show. She would love to be able to place him with us. Making the decision to take four-year-old Aiden into our family was a fine decision. For Lily. And for us. And as a show dog in a home of show dogs Aiden spent a lot of time confined or crated.

Coming to our home would be the first time he had “run of the house.” The breeder told us he would have a much nicer life as a pet. And I can say that he’s fully embraced being a dog here and taking advantage of every opportunity to be a house dog.

And both Lily and Aiden can, among other magical qualities, chase away the autumn melancholia!

Emerging From the Summer Doldrums

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Vespa ET4 scooter in Boalsburg, PA.
A stop with my Vespa ET4 in historic Boalsburg on my way to an early breakfast.

Summer Sloth

I resist writing “I hate summer” but it certainly feels that way as I surface from the summer doldrums of inaction and sloth. When the temperature goes up, I don’t feel like doing anything. Instead, I’ve been making some short morning rides to breakfast and hanging out with my family, friends, and my dogs.

And for many years now, riding in summer was not something I looked forward to. My temperature envelop has narrowed with age. Now my comfort range is 35F to 75F. No wonder much of summer is excluded from riding.

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For the Love of Dogs

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Belgian Sheepdog laying with a Jolly Ball.
Aiden is the newest dog in our family.

Restoring Balance to the Canine Force

After the passing of our dog Junior at the end of March, my wife and I discussed whether or not to get another dog. As we get older, the thought is that a young dog may outlive us. And the work involved in training a puppy seemed more work than either of us wanted to take on. So reluctantly we decided that our remaining dog Lily would be our last.

But after a few weeks of watching Lily grieve over Junior’s absence and become increasingly anxious about being without a canine companion, we reached out to the breeder from which we got Junior and Lily.

And that conversation led to Aiden joining our family.

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My Dog Junior

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Gone but not forgotten.

Elegy to a Dog

Junior was a great dog. Words can’t really describe how grateful I am to have shared part of my journey with him. Dog owners will understand. Those who have not shared life with a dog or are uncomfortable with them, may not appreciate the connection between a person and an animal.

I’ve struggled with my feelings for Junior and could not carry them around for long. My long practiced solution is to write them down, or in this case, express them more visually.

Life does move on, even if not always with the people and animals we love.

Spirit Gureghian — The Dog in the Sidecar

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Spirit Gureghian the dog in the sidecar

Photo of Spirit by Ara Gureghian

The Sad Passing of an Iconic Riding Companion

For any readers familiar with (or not) Ara Gureghian’s blog The Oasis of My Soul you’ll know of his constant riding companion for the last 11 years or so — Spirit.  I felt a great sadness today when I read of his passing.  Spirit, a rescue dog, occupied a big space in Ara’s life and in the minds of his many readers.  When I look at the picture of Spirit with his helmet and goggles I’m reminded of how these creatures become more than an animal or dog.  They become part of our lives if you let them, and bestow great gifts to those smart enough to befriend them.

A photograph reveals a lot about how a photographer feels about their subject.  Ara’s photo speaks volumes about Spirit.

Michael Beattie, author of Key West Diary, has a fine post about Spirit.

I wish I would have had the chance to meet Spirit.  In our occasional correspondence, I always asked that he give Spirit a pat on the head for me.

I’ll give my canine pal Junior a pat on the head in remembrance of Spirit…