Writing while Broken

It's been four months since I blogged, but I have a great excuse- I fell down.

Backwards. Really far. In Colorado, a week after my last post.

I'll spare you the details except to say my right wrist- my writing hand- broke in 12 pieces. It was quite dramatic.

Anyway, I am still healing, but while I was broken I continued to write- albeit painfully

slower and with only one finger.

A writer writes!

And we continued to travel and we will in 2018. On this last day of 2017- a horrible, very good year- the Los Angeles Times published my essay about living on the road.

http://beta.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-reed-rv-life-is-not-so-bad-20171231-story.html

Enjoy and happy New Year!

Day 30 - West Meets South in San Diego

When I returned from Mexico, I wanted to get together with my middle bro. 

He had come from Texas, his new digs, ( I'm really sure this move was not totally his idea ) to see daughters and brothers and friends. As we had made only tentative plans to see each other, I went to Mexico for a few days, and when we returned he went to Temecula. 

Well, it's not hard to know who had the best of that. Not withstanding that border wait...

So, brothers reunited! We met at the BoatHouse on Harbor Island for a walk and talk. Lunch was tasty and the venue beautiful - especially for those who have chosen to live in Texas.

To his never-ending credit, he refused to let me pay for lunch, or the inevitable trip to the Bali Hai for - Thank you God - Mai Tais. 

My bro said he loved them and could drink quite a few given the opportunity. I will welcome him back.

 I loved the day!

So I was born in Egypt and cast out into the Nile... thankfully not! 

BTW- My future wife was 5 months old when this photo was taken.

I had the incredibly good fortune to be born in San Diego. And a more cushy life really could have not been had. A milk- toast neighborhood in the middle of white- bread America. 

Every advantage offered. I must have done some wonderful things in a past life to deserve all these blessings. Whatever the case may be... I will try to give back to those around me for making this life so fantastic. Love and Blessings to my immediate family and friends for making me feel special. 

Love to you all!

Oh... and another spectacular day in sunny Del Mar.

Day 14- The Relatives Arrive- (Still the Guest Blogger RTR)

It became a very busy Sunday, as the patio filled up with relatives. 

Only five in all, but besides the Mother- in- law, they are a rowdy bunch. And I don't have a great deal of will- power and always join in the reindeer games. A tad, OK much more than a tad, too much libation.

So tomorrow should be a day of cleansing.  Promises made to yourself  after over- indulging are fine. Really!  Just make sure there is follow through. So a sweaty rock and walk followed by a long bike ride. Remember to hydrate. 

Light Beer is very hydrating and cleansing....

Day 9- Zen and the Art of RV Maintenance

Reality comes to roost on your doorstep even when one is a master at putting his head in the sand.

 This reality happens once a week when motor- home maintenance should be a priority. When your domicile has an engine and many other parts necessary are confined to a very small place, one should be diligent. Because there is no place to hide if something goes wrong. I must admit to being somewhat less than diligent in more ways than I care to delineate.

 I do start the engine once a week and walk around the vehicle. My wife is not so sure that this constitutes proper maintenance.

But it did afford me time for relaxing at the beach. Mark off another day of enjoyment!

Day 5- Friday Night Musings (Guest Blogger RTR)

Here's the thing about enjoying your life too much. People 

will be skeptical. Some will say, "yeah, but what about...?" 

Then all the preconceived attitudes drilled into them from 

grammar school kick in: do you have a plan for your final 

years? Have you paid off your house? How much do you 

owe? How will you pay for your retirement? Hard questions 

for all. But if your not enjoying every day- and I don't mean 

doing something that I would call over-the-top,skydiving, 

shark encounters, Mt. Everest- then you're missing out.

 My idea of enjoying every day is doing.. just doing... the 

things I enjoy. 

Today I took another bike ride - my route unknown - and I 

found my way. Luckily I have very attainable goals that make

 my heart happy; I hope to wake to find my family doing their 

best and to set an example to enjoy their lives as they see 

fit. Not as their parents see fit.

The Grapes of Ralph

     So- we aren't exactly back on the road...but we are...but we're not. 

Life changes all the time and we're the type of people that change with it. This time last year - pre-RV - we were getting ready for a two- month road trip in our van, mainly to see if we could live in a small space and not kill each other. We found out we could, even in a snowstorm in Mammoth. 

Damn, it was cold, but we, much like Jesus and the Donner Party, had wine. Ralph a little more than me, because I have to write stuff for a living and talk to important people, while he has to read a map (yes, he still reads maps) and make a fire and scare away bears. Apparently he can do this and drink wine. A lot of it. He’s good at it and he doesn’t age. (He'll be 68 this year, ladies.) Seriously, Ask his doctor who recently said, “I wish all my patients were as happy healthy and handsome as you.” Hmmm…

Anyway, Ralph loves his wine more than an OC Housewife loves her Botox. He finds us beautiful sunsets and white, sandy beaches and pristine forests- and he always has a wine to pair with an adventure - like what to sip while attending a polo match.

 He loves it all, mostly red, and since our budget is tight, I'm lucky he's not a wine snob. 

Since I’m starting up this blog again, Wednesdays will be devoted to Ralph and his wine. He might review it, advise you on one of his favorite wineries, or just drink the cheap stuff and tell a joke, depending where we are. Oh, and right now we are at a campground in Oceanside, CA.It’s a tad tacky, but its a mile from the beach and it's home for now and it' has been since the first of the year. I’m not sure how long we’ll stay or where we will go next, but Ralph says not to worry about it and you know, have another glass of wine.

Ralph's favorite cheap wine is Trader Joe's Block Red wine. It's about 13 bucks (although it's important to note that although he may drink cheap wine, he does NOT lower his standards by drinking 2-buck Chuck. He does have principals!)

"It's full-bodied, yet mellow and very drinkable," Ralph says. "It goes well with pizza, steak or a pan-seared trout. As I said, it's very drinkable."