When Have I NOT Been Writing?
I envy those people who can remember something that happened when they were five with a twinkle in their eyes and a lop-sided grin produced by the nostalgia of the memory. My husband is one of those. For me, it’s not a loss of memory due to age–I don’t consider myself that old. 
So I count on stories, pictures, or one of a handful of memories in a childhood spent moving several times a year looking for greener pastures in what would today be considered poverty–we just knew we were poor. The picture is from a newspaper article on reading of myself when I was 8 and my beloved brother (lost during the Viet Nam conflict). It starts with a love and respect of books.
There is another picture (heaven knows where) of myself receiving an award for winning a story writing contest–think it was Red Bluff CA–so would have been a number of years later. Perhaps this was the glimmer my grandfather saw in me. My teacher must have seen something as well as she submitted it to the local paper. Bless her heart.
I’ve had compliments from letter recipients and seldom lacked the ability to pen a story when it was required–but formally? Having majored in the man who would become my husband (now 53 years) in college , I was probably fortunate to attain the diploma I did. 
As mentioned before, it was during my riding years that I began writing stories for various motorcycling magazines, though mainly the WOW (Women On Wheels(c)) Magazine. I probably wrote better than I rode, but it was a way to work on my writing chops!
When I discovered my grandfather’s manuscripts and a way to publish them then, it was a natural. It’s good I don’t have to do this for a living–it’s a happy commitment in my retirement–and with any luck one that will continue to grow and provide reward.
And reward doesn’t always have to include dollar signs!
really appreciate that you took the time to comment. yes, i really enjoyed riding–there is a freedom, camaraderie, and power that comes with riding you can find in few other activities without going extreme. or maybe in my case, it was extreme. i got into some pretty hairy situations. still–i miss it. thanks again!
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appreciate the comment. thank you!
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Interesting post, thank you.
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It’s great that you started with a respect for books and you kept right on going. That you wrote for a motorcycle magazine made me smile. You write what you’re interested in. A friend of mine once shared a Harley writing with me. So glad you found your grandfather’s manuscripts! Looking forward to learning more about them.
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