Another year older

Yesterday was my 66th birthday.  I received such an outpouring of birthday wishes from friends; I didn't know how to react.  I'm not used to this.  I'm kind of a private guy, not big on having the spotlight shine on me. But I am extremely grateful for the well wishes.  I was thinking about this today.  Funny how FB will not allow me to have my blog link in my posts.  If I copy my blog post to FB I received an abundance of comments and "likes".  Yet hardly anyone I know actually reads my blog.  Now I do not necessarily see this as a negative.  I write my blog for selfish reasons.  The act of organizing my thoughts into words is an immense aid in understanding who I am at that time.  But still, I find this interesting.  So I believe in the future I will refrain from posting on FB and stick to the relative solitude of my blog.  I believe this might be related to my mindset as of late.  I find myself becoming more mellow, less passionate.  This is very much unlike me to be sure.  I've always been one to leap into endeavors with a disregard for life and limb; a "what the heck, let's do this" kind of guy.  Is this a sign of aging?  Maybe I'm finally becoming an adult?  Yuck!  I hope not!  I've heard that the process of aging should not be seen as losing the ability to do things as much as a change in those things one does well.  Maybe this is the case?  Anyway, I find I am more patient now.  I have no trouble in letting a job simmer on the back burner for awhile, often times returning to putter a little just to wander off again onto other things.  I find my capacity is not so much limited by time as much as by energy now.  I've heard (yes, I've been hearing quite a lot lately!) that old age is a time of gentle reflection.  That sounds inviting, but not yet.  I'm not ready for that much slowness yet.  I have plenty of projects lined up; work on the house, my old truck, my water garden, etc. as well as my photography, my guitar, my drawing and other art and reading, lots of reading.  So my biggest concern, if you will at this time is how to fit my view camera and all of its assorted paraphernalia onto the back of my motorcycle.  It would probably help to get a "field camera" instead of the more studio oriented camera I now use, but I like my old camera.  I know it is older then I am, which probably has some meaning somewhere.  See, here I am saying to myself now "well, I'm sure it will resolve itself".  Gee, that is so unlike me.  So here I am, trying to figure out who the heck is filling out my body suit.  I'm not really sure, but I have the feeling things will still be interesting, just in a slower kind of way.  So, anybody know of a good used field camera for sale?

Good morning to me.  I say this because it is my intent to write about those things I find most disturbing in an attempt to clear my mind and reach an understanding of sorts.  My intended audience will be me.  These thoughts, declarations and questions will be open to any who wish to read them, and as always I welcome all comments, both pro and con.  It is my intent to try and reach an understanding of these things I find most perplexing, and in fact often to varying levels depressing.  I anticipate my subject matter will include a wide range of issues extending from gay marriage, second amendment rights and personal responsibility to environmental issues and feelings about government and politics.  I do not plan to hold anything back for fear of offending, because, as I initially stated, my audience is me.  So, with that opening statement in place, I will begin....tomorrow.

Happy trails,

Hugh