Beginnings

David Masse over at Life on two wheels, the scoot commute recently published a post about, in part, his original intentions for starting a blog (click here to read the post). Responding to his post and reading the other comments prompted me to reflect on my own beginnings as a blogger.

I wanted to start a blog to get back into the discipline of writing. But, what to write about? Well, I knew I wanted to explore the surprising turn of events that brought me to riding a scooter. But, what shape was that to take? And, if it was to be about riding my Symba, was this all I wanted to focus on?

I tried to write a mission statement. It kept eluding me. Since I wanted the direction of my blog to be clear and well defined, I refused to start until things ceased being so nebulous. Finally, I realized if I waited until I achieved clarity about the direction of my blog, I would never start. So, I came up with a name, Twists and Leanings, and took the plunge.

I still haven't found a clarity of subject matter for Twists and Leanings that I am completely comfortable with, but in many respects the blog seems to be sorting itself out. I have a sense of direction I want to go with it. Along the way I, also, discovered I really wanted a daily journal of my riding (or not) to work, and I wanted to make a daily commitment to writing. Since these two objectives didn't fit well with the other ideas I had about this blog I started another. Thus Did He Ride Today? was born. Yes, I went from not being able to start a blog to having two of them...go figure.

I feel my writing is improving. Recently, I had a post I was actually pleased with on Twists and Leanings, rather than merely satisfied. More importantly it seems stories are beginning to seek me out. When I first started blogging it was a chore to figure out what to write about. Now, the challenge is finding the time to write the things I want to.

From talking with other bloggers I've come to believe it is a blessing that statistics mystify me. I just don't quite understand them. I've heard from other bloggers, including David, stories of spending lots of time pouring over the statistics and wondering about traffic. I know when folks actually started leaving comments on my postings I found myself constantly checking my email to see if a new comment had come in. And, if I got no comments on a post, I found myself wondering what I did wrong.  I've come to see if the post is true and touches me that is all that really matters here. Comments are still very important to me, but not as a gauge to how well I'm doing. Rather, it is because I've found my responses to readers comments often have a depth the post itself only hinted at. Thanks to all you who comment. You do really bring the best out in me.

One of the surprises of blogging has been the role photos have come to play in my postings. Before I began blogging I didn't even own a camera. Now I'm rarely without one. I have a waterproof Fujiflim XP that lives on a lanyard around my neck when I'm riding. And, another Fujifilm Finepix I carry in my pocket. They are supposedly the same camera, but I'm here to tell you, they are not. Even though they are simple point and shoot cameras both have their strengths and weaknesses.

But the most wonderful surprise about blogging has been the relationships I've developed with other bloggers. In October Heather and I headed north to Minnesota to meet up with Chris from Everyday Riding. (Click here for the post about riding  three up on a Ural). When folks at work asked me where I was going for my vacation, I told them I was going to Minnesota to see a friend I'd never met.

The smiles tell the story

 Photo by the beautiful and mysterious Mrs. Everyday Riding.

Since starting this blog I have made other friends I've never met. I hope the twists and leanings of my life take me down the roads that will lead to my encountering many of them face to face.

So, until we do meet...
Be safe.
Be passionate.
And, love extravagantly.