Racism

I'd like to talk about racism in America
I realize it's alive and well
sadly
My son has experienced blatant racism
first hand in Louisiana
when he was asked to join the KKK
I guess they didn't expect
a
blonde haired, blue eyed guy to get so incensed
and
they backed off immediately
then
he called me with tears
to ask why people were so hatred filled
thankfully
he wasn't raised to hate
Although
I do question
why
in this day and age
there is
Black Entertainment Television and Awards
and
The United Negro College Fund
when a
White Entertainment Television and Awards
and a
United Caucasian College Fund
would be banned
So
some things just don't make sense to me
because
the way I see it
the only real threat to racism is inclusion
and
who wouldn't want
that
?

The Firewalker

Have you ever dreaded something?

You know it's coming

You can't stop it

but

you know you have to face it

head on

kind of like standing on
train tracks

holding up one hand

and

watching the speeding train

come at you

or

maybe

taking off your shoes

and

walking across burning coals

knowing you will be scorched

but

hoping your inner strength

will somehow take over

and

you'll get through

whatever ''it'' is

just fine

Bike Adventure 2010

This is what 1400 miles on a bike looks like
Down the coast weaving inland
into
California

Smell of hot bike

Smell of hot self
freezing one minute
boiling another

wind in my face
sunburnt, windblown

Glorious redwoods

making a canopy over the road

dappled sunshine

Mint fields turning to ocean

butterflies that don't taste like chicken

bee stings

curves for 140 miles at a time

feeling vibrations
even after the bike was turned off

lovely, friendly people

offering drinks and conversation

hot tubs in rooms

swerving to avoid hitting

snakes, possum, elk, deer, cows, skunks, fallen logs
and the
same suicidal squirrel
repeatedly

finding out 90 mph wind gusts

with a sheer

cliff on one side and logging trucks on another

aren't the most fun

especially when soggy from a hard rain

emailing friends from the road

on

my trusty Blackberry

Learning

Advil is my friend,

and

my sciatic nerve isn't

but

in all honesty and fairness

I'd do it again

tomorrow

Oregon Gardens-Photography Part 3

Oregon Gardens-Photography Part 2

Oregon Gardens -Photography Part 1

Helmet Laws

This is how I make sure

nobody borrows

my helmet

ever