Tag Archives: David

An AWESOME Spectacle of ?

Posted on June 29, 2013 | 3 comments

A Double Rainbow Greets and Tantalizes

? Love, Hope, A Future ? Sorry, I’m an optimist, but I live in a city where good friends tell you: “You really shouldn’t go downtown and ride your bike in those neighborhoods”. They are right, you know, we have just experienced a spike in shootings and murders. Baltimore and we Baltimoreans seem to casually accept our place in the urban competition of gun and gang homicide statistics. We even had a popular eponymous show; Homicide: Life On The Streets (airing from 1993-1990). Averaging 300 murders per year we seem to look the other way. The toll this year is up to 116 already. Just since last Friday, still counting at 32 shootings with 8 fatalities; young and old, men women and children targeted or caught in the crossfire. Why would I want to go there on a Friday night after work?

Though I hate to spread fear and bad news, I don’t want anyone to think I don’t calculate my actions. I was a home care PT for 6 months in these and worse areas. The families had a universally warm reception, and lived in safe warm nests like your own. They do face a different reality outside their door though. It is not so comforting to check out the statistics:

http://crimebaltimore.com

But, there we were. Hoping for nothing more than a good time. A couple thousand of us strolling into a battlefield?

My sister, myself and my lovely wife

Cue: BALTIMORE BIKE PARTY! BIKE PAARTAY! baltimorebikeparty.com

Our path went into and around areas that have seen better days, but perhaps our presence gives hope for better days to come?

Route:

http://goo.gl/maps/yGBKI

Believe it or not the joy on wheels was astounding. Neighbor’s reception was astounding! Smiling people in the gritty, half-bombed-out houses line the streets to watch us roll. They stood in joy, children at side and in arms. They lined up as gleeful as we riders. Smartphones capturing us. Tablets tracking our wheels. Videographers turning slowly to create their “movies of us” as we passed through their streets. IT WAS AN AWESOME SPECTACLE OF ACCEPTANCE AND CELEBRATION OF HUMANITY. Bikes are love. Bikes are Glee. Bikes change people, at least in the moment. Do you remember the first time you rode a bike?

The Baltimore Bike Party grew from a movement called Critical Mass. I don’t know the history well, but part of their mission was to draw awareness to the needs of cyclists on the streets. Trying to be visible and supported in urban centers, add bike lanes and safety. This couldn’t be more needed still today. A wonderful, sparkling co-worker was struck by an SUV on her way to work at Sinai Hospital last Wednesday. She was on her way to help and work with victims of just such accidents. I rode Friday with her in mind. Bike Parties are the last Friday of each month, meet at 7, roll at 7:30 end with a party. Simple enough. We even hear our Mayor attended this month.

The ride began at the Washington Monument at Mt Vernon. Themed as an “Eighties” spectacle, many of these riders were conceived during that decade, some not even born yet. Some of us were out partying then, some were growing families those years. The children we were having are counting on us to give them a safe world. I won’t go too far in my diatribe because surprises are everywhere. If you “stay home to stay safe”, if you live the life protected, you may miss a few things. If we live the life protected, don’t we accept the unacceptable norm that spreads as the plague? The indoor world offers a level, entertainment and televised view of life and the World. If you just sit by to watch, you may miss the truest spectacles. There we were on streets that probably had shell casings or yellow crime scene tape within days or hours ago and then…A RAINBOW GREETED US AT THE MID-STOP AT Robert C Marshall Park! The neighbors again came out and laughed at us in our bike-costume-foolery. Once again, Whimsy Struck its POWERFUL BLOW!

A worthy re-post: Who doesn’t smile when the unexpected is 3 feet away? Whimsy from last month at the Kinetic Sculpture Race…

Everyone wants a safe home. Everyone wants their kids to sing and dance and play. Everyone wants to get along. I believe even gangs grew from wanting to get along, to belong to something. I want to keep planting seeds even where they may not grow. (In the near future, you are likely to see this blog/forum as an early connection for social action of my dreams)

I may suffer or die in my own pursuits and endeavors, but I won’t wonder “what’s going on out there?” I’m just living each day…

…and doesn’t every day or good saga have storms hovering somewhere on the wings

How do you follow an amazing ride where we stopped traffic at every intersection for several minutes as ~1700 bikes rolled through? Only a very, very few cars (Pardon me, drivers), could be seen with any sign of impatience. I only saw 2 or 3 cars all night turning around to avoid our spectacle. Most just parked at the lights, leaning out the window smiling, video-ing, and probably gawking in memory of 1980-something?

Oh yeah, there was an “after party”: The Lexington Market was a scene of more “getting along”. Again, black and white, tan and pale people laughed into lines to get food and beer. The Lexington Market after dark! Bikes have taken over the World! Even the revelry letting out of an Orioles game was no match for a bike party. There we were. Ever question the estimates of people provided by news reports. I counted an average of 15 bikes per rack on rows of 31 racks on the parking lot: 465 bikes. Thing is, half the riders had gone home by then. thing is, those rows were DWARFED by the incredible rows and piles and piles of bikes, OUTSIDE of the parking area. There were SO many more bikes Outside of the parking area….I think 1700 is a way low estimate. So thousands of people smile Friday night in the city. And our presence made thousands more smile. And younger kids grabbed their bikes to join us. Impressing all with their wheelies, rolling in an around our ranks they became us as we became them. Baltimore Bike Party.

In my day, it was Richard B who could ride for blocks on his rear wheel

Greeted again with smiles by the kid who could ride for blocks on his rear wheel. He weaved in among us and we were the ones whose smiles cracked even bigger!

-David

80’s Party Style

what Party is complete without Cupcakes?

Bikes are accessible, here are a few links:

http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/your_summer_bike_guide

3 Comments

Posted in the "Afterlife", Travel in the USA, Uncategorized

Tagged Baltimore, David, Jane, Mountain biking, outdoors, Random Thoughts, Wonderful people

Ongoing Re-entry: OR, Is it Healthy to be Adapted to an Un-Healthy World?

Posted on June 8, 2013 | 11 comments

Coming back into my “life at work in the city”, I’m once again seen smiling. My ready smile and health I treasure even more as Jane and I celebrate each other and Her Health! But I begin to watch and listen to the world around me. Please join me in what may become a series of posts (hopefully interactive, as I have much to learn) on philosophies, strategies, observations and the desire to continue to grow. The Trampervoyage continues and was really just a beginning. My views are working for me so far and I’d love to share them, nurture and fine tune them with yours too. Please “Comment”, perhaps a dialog will begin on the fine art of survival in modern times.

I’ve been heard to say, “We all skate on the thin ice of good health”. I fervently believe it. Physical and mental health are flighting delicate features that we so often take for granted. Perhaps this too is important; the ice is opaque and all that can go wrong lies hidden where it doesn’t usually affect our daily life. Full of analogies, imagine walking on a curb, little or no consequence below. Next, step onto a balance beam. Only 5 feet above gym mats or a spotter, your fears change your movements and freeze your every step. Imagine the same impossible steps on a log above a rushing, icy river. It’s all perception; the same task with a different level of fear. People who don’t work in healthcare are insulated from all possible fates and infections. Best they (or we who do see it) don’t really know or dwell on all that bed stuff anyway. A healthy person would be frozen from action if all of the dire illnesses were at the front of the mind.

Today I will expand on some other emotional challenges. Imagine two short paths leading to the same safe arrival. (except that while traveling we can never know for sure about that safe arrival) In the first, you awake, manage a cursory breakfast, hop into the car noting the light blue early morning sky. Traffic allows a smooth passage, a few extra green lights, a driver waves you into the next lane, smiles greet you at the parking lot. The first person you see asks how your weekend was and seems to want an answer. Smiling and recounting chores done and some fun had, you feel refreshed and ready to work. Peers all sort of blend in and you feel prepared to handle the challenge of a new day and whatever it is that lands on your desk

The second path includes the same cursory meal, but a bit of dark jelly stains your freshly laundered shirt. No time to spare, you rush out to the car and try to “hurry to work”. A near miss has you cursing and thinking what an idiot that “minivan” driver was. Stuck in a turn lane, your thoughts simmer at how you’ll surely miss the light (and take all of 30-40 seconds longer). Maybe you spill a little coffee. A coworker pulls into a spot you had just glanced at. The world seems out-to-get-you. I won’t expand on the expression you might be wearing and the steam rising above you; no wonder the first words tossed about aren’t so complimentary. Each of these “little events” can be rationalized into a “nothing”, no big deal. But chances are good, as they convene, your mental perspective is teetering. We begin to tell ourselves how the world is. And our captive brain listens so well.

These two vignettes are played out over and over all day, each and every day! The struggle to stay afloat and positive is real and constant. News (I won’t rant too long) and media warn you constantly how dangerous the world is. Sorry, we just travelled 190 days, never knowing where to park or who to trust and found warmth and welcome in every state. This piece, though, investigates what we tell ourselves, not what David has to say about the “Good ole USA”.

Various faiths offer meditation, prayer, solace and even touch-able objects like a rosary to guide thoughts to a quiet, unfettered place. But it is still what we believe and what we tell ourselves that creates the field of our mind which perceives the world around. An old post-punk band named “X” coined a song with the refrain: “I must not think bad thoughts”. Not a bad mantra really.

What really brings all this to the surface while adapting to “my old life”, is observing how people interact. So many of us relish a negative swagger to the re-telling of a story. Difficult patient or retail experiences seem to beg the retelling and maybe even embellishing. Many even escalate in commiserating with one another speculating the outcomes of future events. Forming all the worst scenarios and getting everyone around worked up in the process.

The shared experience, good or bad, is guided intentionally or accidentally via conscious and unconscious means. My mother (of seven children), intuitively or by hard learned lesson, always recited “No news is good news”, waiting for siblings to come home late at night, saying “the police would have called by now if anything bad had happened”. I believe, I too have gained a bit of that quiet, calm that awaits real information before inciting panic or riot.

I also believe the sharing directly between people is largely modulated by mirror cells. In numerous parts of our brain are groups of cells called mirror cells or mirror neurons. Scans have allowed us to see empathetic or mimicking activity of a task occurring even as we “only witness” the activity. Areas “fire” the same whether performing or merely observing a task. For example, someone walks down the hall carrying boxes, slips a bit, and begins to juggle or drop those boxes. A viewer, “feels” for them and turns on areas of the brain responsible for balance. Reflexes kick in that would stabilize the viewer’s trunk to react. That same viewer might even initiate a movement to catch himself. Watching someone cry, can trigger strong emotional responses. Fortunately, laughter too, is infectious.

“CLICK” for the UCLA Mirror Neurons article

“CLICK” for the NY Times Mirror Cells article

Society and learning has been linked to these types of cells. Empathy, imagining, feeling what someone else feels begins a connection and shared emotion.

HOW CAN WE GUIDE OUR THOUGHTS TO MAKE US MORE POSITIVE PEOPLE? Surrounding ourselves with constructive people. Listening to our own reactions. Jane once had a little bracelet that she would move from one wrist to the other each time she made a negative comment.

I’m convinced it is (unfortunately) much more natural and easier to be negative than positive. Perhaps cave men and women survived by noting and avoiding bad foods and bad places. Shoppers today revel in scathing commentary…look at online reviews and surveys. If we can catch ourselves before speaking, only to make suggestions for improvement or constructive replies, can we skirt the gripe sessions and celebrated negativity. Does griping really make us happy? Does venting perform a purpose?

What makes a good Psychological survival strategy?

I attended a course in 2007 given by Eric Gentry, about Compassion Fatigue and I’d like to share the 3 lessons learned. The instructor is a PhD Psychologist and “Traumatologist” who trained the trainers after Oklahoma bombings, the Twin Towers of 911, and after Katrina. Rather than preaching what he thought would be a good strategy or reciting things from his books, he and his group have studied survivors. He studied the traits seen in the strongest people who pick up and Thrive in the worst of settings. I’ll try to outline those traits as reviewed in the course.

http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/nextsteps.html

1) Connections/Narrative: Use your network. Someone surrounded with people who care is far more likely to thrive. BUT, don’t burn them out. If a chosen partner, buddy or coworker is your main resource they must be allowed to say “No, not right now, I’m busy or can’t get involved this moment”, Respect the answer and approach later with clearance. Confidentiality and trust matter, plus the external feedback adds objectivity.

“I’ve got your back”

2) Relax the Body: Separate actual from perceived threat or danger, self regulation, control your body’s reactions, breathing, relax the pelvic floor. The instructor couldn’t emphasize enough the weight of carrying stress and tension in the body. Don’t load the system with adrenaline if fight or flight isn’t actually needed. Chronic sympathetic overload encourages the stress hormone cortisol and it’s hosts of negative influences. (This supports my general avoidance of violence in film or “action movies”)

3) Self Care: (Not self indulgence), sleep well, eat well, drink plenty of water, 20 minutes of aerobic activity at least 3X/week, Integrative activity, (music, art, craft, skills and improvisation, more activities to connect with joy, hope, life and wonder). (My take on this is that we as an organism can’t function optimally, can’t heal, can’t think right in murky states of health. Our “few pound” brain uses 20-30% of our energy and bloodflow. Think back to how exhausted you feel after an emotional event, a funeral….not much exercise, but lots of energy spent)

Stay Playfull !

Please send me your thoughts. The networks possible today can blend and share benefits freely.

-David

11 Comments

Posted in Barriers, Finding my place in the world, Health & Fitness, the "Afterlife"

Tagged Barriers, David, Health & Fitness, Random Thoughts, Travel blog, Wonderful people

The Incredible Weight of Simplicity

Posted on June 6, 2013 | 2 comments

“Wow, 190 day trip. How would you even pack for that?” a first question of a coworker upon reunion.

Well that really brings together old and new thoughts, pre and post trip musing. In the planning stage was the same question. Now, I look around my home and life and wonder what all this crap is. I wonder why I have all this stuff and how I can make sense of it, or ever get it organized.

Packing, we knew we’d be facing four seasons. We knew the sports we’d ply. Lists sprouted: Skis, boots, poles, long undies-tops and bottoms, coat, shell, ski pants, helmet, goggles, glove and mittens. Hand warmers for Jane, so many accessories- but all easily listed and known. Then the bikes with their shorter list, kayak with only paddles and life vests. Hiking, the simplest, added only hiking boots and a day pack. All easily splayed out in the house or garage, but a bit harder to condense and fit into a tramper and 4Runner. The obvious and self explained necessities!

Next came clothing. We heard the wise words of a traveling PT friend. Bring less, he said. “I’ve been to China for two weeks with no more than a small knapsack carry-on”. Wise indeed, but it may have been months before we really “got” it.

Rebuilding the Tramper gave me time to ponder and plan. Each drawer, shelf and cabinet was to have a purpose. Some I left as in 1957. Others had to be removed and revised.

The kitchen, including ALL pots, pans and tools

The toilet room became a shower and storage for soap and shampoo, the grey water tank, our little commode, laundry detergent and sport wipes. The table had drawers for 4 forks, spoons, and 2 knives (one butter, one sharp). Another drawer, the requisite “junk drawer”, post-its, pens, pencils, a sharpie and small details.

Two drawers, nicely added by a previous owner, (date unknown…1950’s 60’s?)

I had built a deep cabinet next to the fridge with 4 shelves above the right wheel well. The bottom was purpose built to hold two boot-bag knapsacks. Each of our indulgent boot packs “always” houses those big, heavy ski boots, a helmet, gloves/mittens, neck warmer, sunblock and just a few small accessories. System organization. My favorite! And it works at home, as one can keep the categorized toys or tools of one need in one place, “always” knowing just where to look.

This puzzle piece was 17″ high though. The boot bags ate a big chunk of space, but their weight nests right over the trailer axle. Above was divided into 2 shelves each 2 for Hers, 2 shelves for His. On two were baskets to hold ALL of each of our “normal” clothing. Into the house they went and piles of underwear, T-shirts, long sleeve shirts, short and long pants were tossed. Not long before they were overflowing, you can imagine! Out came a few things. Then more discussion.

In talk with our selves and travel consultant, John, the PT we knew less was going to be plenty. Only we could decide how much less. Clean socks and underwear a necessity, how often would we do laundry? Having the small shower stall and hot/cold running water was a luxury we knew afforded hand washing as needed. We settled for about 5 pairs of socks and undies each, washing them nearly every day. Twas fun to note humidity’s effect on drying. The dank week of Hurricane Sandy in Rosendale threatened us with that “sour” laundry smell. The arid deserts and Western mountains dried things overnight or faster and the air we breathed was softened by the humidity.

Of course the mesh laundry bags that piled with bigger loads and heavier clothes were relieved mostly in campgrounds, occasionally in towns at laundromats. So there we were, with the fewest clothes we thought we could make it with. Several waves of subtraction left us each with one basket to live from. And live we did! An astute observer might notice the small selection in our pictures. (They always wore the same few clothes) We didn’t mind a bit. Prompted me to get rid of and donate quite a pile on return home. Jane has “halved” her closet compared to before the Voyage!

-David

(I’ll try to get some more pics of our total clothing basket)

2 Comments

Posted in Barriers, RV Living, the "Afterlife", Tramper pictures, Travel in the USA

Tagged Barriers, Before we go, David, DIY, Jane, long time friend, Tramper pics, Wonderful people

WOW, Now what?

Posted on April 3, 2013 | 9 comments

First I’d like to thank anyone who checked in, commented or just plain enjoyed any part of our adventure via this blog. We never considered having a big audience or following, only wanting to chronicle a little and maybe make a vicarious thrill available for family and friends. Next thing we knew, we realized we had to keep up. Writing regularly was the only way to avoid that overwhelming list of “things we should do”. It grew to be a true joy and an integral part of the Voyage!

Second, I invite pretty much any of you to borrow the Tramper for your own trip. REALLY! Through some nice, mutual agreement (not necessarily financial), I would love to see someone else’s dreams facilitated. A new pair of tires, a battery, or maybe some cool as yet unknown accessory could comprise a rental arrangement. Additional requirements would include a discussion of the “value” or replacement cost and the suggestion of insuring the camper. One final requirement would be a display of commitment or intent. “You” would have to demonstrate a beginner’s understanding of towing safety, RV boon docking, propane safety, and a willingness to learn about the Tramper in particular.

Its simple really, remember I knew nothing about any of this before locating the derelict camper in Delaware. The details of this learning adventure would likely include a nearby camping trip where I could explain things briefly and hand over the reigns. Out of this, I would get a return investment of vicarious thrills and a few weeks or months with “no Tramper in my yard”. Driveway access to my workshop is narrowed by the sleeping beauty.

barely room to walk through

I also want to begin talk of my internal voyage. We didn’t run away from a bad life to do this trip. To the contrary, we loved our home, family, jobs, friends and the routine of daily life. I LOVE TO WORK. We left to celebrate all that we love and can still do. We took the chance of “all that could go wrong”, Murphy’s law be damned, and did it. Now we return safely and are faced with our life. The rest of our life. Life after the Trampervoyage; whatever that is to become.

Honestly it feels at once overwhelming and underwhelming. During the journey we floated high in conversations. There we were, living the dream. People congratulated us. People seemed to envy us at times. Most encouraged and cheered us on. The accomplishment was in the moment and in “where to tomorrow?” Now, we have returned and there is no tangible evidence. No physical accomplishment. Maybe THAT is what drives me to make and fix so many things. In creating tangible projects, I create my own little trophy. I create my report card. After all, wasn’t school sometimes more rewarding than work? You got grades! Someone told you how you were doing!

Today I broke away from Jane to do something separate. We have had the incredible blessing of being together for nearly every task and joy for 190 days, 24 hours per day. We were rarely apart. Doubtful many couples could say that at any point in their marriage. We’ve continued that at home, working on unpacking, cleanup and other home tasks. But today Jane went to see her sister; I went to see the elephants!

In March of every year, Baltimore hosts the circus. Hopefully each of you has some fond memory of the youthful attraction enshrining the circus. Maybe you ran away and joined? (If so, tell us some of your stories) Anyway, one of the more colorful local traditions includes an Elephant Parade. Tenders march the big beautiful beasts through the city streets, up from the arena to the Lexington Market for a big lunch buffet. Then after a desert of watermelons, they parade back down to their cages, I presume, to await their other performances.

You can agree with the spectacle or argue the treatment of zoo and performance animals everywhere, but I thought it was WONDERFUL. Without these few “suffering” performing animals, most of humanity knows nothing of their immensity. Most of us could not fathom the emotional eyes of an elephant, nor the grandeur of the whole animal kingdom if it weren’t for our contact, albeit limited through showcases of zoos, circuses, and aquariums. The size, shimmering fur, smells and splashes of them all would all be reduced to photographs or TV shows someone else framed for us. I saw intimate views of a fox family on public TV last night, yet my memory of the litter berthed under my mom’s porch was more vivid. Those kits nipped and yipped playfully and beautifully, nursing until they were weaned before we “encouraged” them to move out of that urban den.

What then, does any of this have to do with the Voyage of the Tramper? A full circle is a difficult journey. Its hard to come back. I have found myself looking at all that makes up a person. I find myself lacking the same “value” I had as a productive, functioning and working member of society. I felt as though I had retired. I read a version of “retired” in Steinbeck’s East of Eden that I will avoid as I can with all my heart. Retired meant surrendered. Retired meant finished with all productive contribution. Samuel moved to the city in retirement, and eased uselessly to his death. He invited it. He accepted it. And he chose to cease contributing.

The happiest “retirees” I know now are volunteers. Giving some of themselves to causes they value. My sister, retired at one time, wrote the word “something” on her calendar a few days each week. When called upon by the limitless needs of one charity or another, she could honestly say: “Sorry, I’ve got something that day”. In this she protected bits of her time as needed. Hospitals, The Aquarium, Red Cross, soup kitchens, and more, there are any number of fulfilling ways to “retire” and be fulfilled by those around us. On our Voyage we met hosts at campgrounds and made breakfasts sandwiches with a local North Carolina church.

I have selfishly preserved a few extra weeks to work on our house and home before returning to work. I had the luxury of free time. Time sometimes takes on different dimensions. Everyone I know who is retired says they don’t know how they got things done while they worked full-time. Perspective changes.

When I have two hours available and two hours of “work to get done”, it gets done. When I have a week stretched out ahead, pressure is off, things can be delayed. Procrastination is a vine. Working raises the stakes. Work schedules create the skill of prioritization. Working is vital. I think working is a part of vitality. Being productive raises self-worth. Even exercise at a gym is a form of productivity. Even playful exercise is rewarding and productive; improving health, re-creating us, building muscle all the while.

I found walking, then running along to keep up with the elephants invigorating. It reminded me of my love of our city. We have been in the cocoon of our Voyage for 6 months. We truly felt disconnected from 2012-13. In rural and wild places, this was only natural. But the majority of our journey carried us also through rural, agrarian places. Through what felt like a different time. We often felt like we were living “in the fifties” right along with that old Tramper. Cities became shocking. The resort at Beaver Creek, overwhelming. A modern pace of life distasteful.

Being home too has been bewildering. 70 square feet of living space and just one basket of clothes each has us in a simple mindset. We see now we have “so many things” in our home. I’m longing for the simplicity. Too many clothes, too many dishes, pots and pans. I am, today, adapting better. I was part of the crowd who wanted to see the elephants. I saw the elephants themselves, line up, gladly clasping tails in trunk and parade back to the arena. In this too, I jump back into life, a life I love!

-David

ENJOY THE PARADE!