That's a quotation from the future. Right now we're just getting started. In fact the first meeting was last night. But the group has already been together all summer as part of an 8-week creative non-fiction workshop. We jelled within the structure of a weekly class, now we're going to try continuing on without our able instructor.
The above quotation isn't just wishful thinking. We've heard of at least one group that did start 20 years ago and they're still going strong today.
"Just wanted to let you know you are not alone in the world. . . there are others of us out there. I've enjoyed reading parts of your Blog - I just started a blog myself and so I'm using you as inspiration. Here is a recent post of mine where you made a cameo:http://finlinsonfamily.blogspot.com/2004/07/other-rich-finlinson.html
later,
Rich Finlinson"
So there are at least two of us. Three if you count my second cousin Dick Finlinson, four if you count my late Uncle Rich Lyman Finlinson of Leamington, Utah. Five if you count this Richard Finlinson from the UK. If you know of others, just let me know.
Here are a few other pangrams:
If there are ghosts here I didn’t see or hear them, unless you count the glare my camera caught as I snapped this shot of the control room while standing in the studio.
I didn’t want to leave Nashville without touring RCA Studio B. I’d already seen the impressive new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum built in 2001 and the historic Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Old Opry from 1943 to 1974. They’re big places designed to accommodate hundreds of visitors.
Studio B is just a single story, cinderblock building with a reception area, one studio, one control room, one listening area. It’s not about the architecture, it’s who came here and what they produced. For a couple of decades Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold, the Everly Brothers, Dolly Parton, Jim Reeves, Floyd Cramer, Willie Nelson produced hundreds of hit records here.
"Wait a minute, I thought a writing class should make it easier to write, not harder," is the unspoken comment. "It is easier to write, just harder to publish."
Something similar to this happens when teachers start their students blogging. The students become aware of readers and they seek to clean up their writing. Kids who didn't care about spelling and grammar have new motivation to get it right. Now that I'm a student again, I do care more about what I'm saying.
So, yes, I'm still writing and blogging. And in just a moment, I'll push the "Publish Post" button once again, even though it's not quite as easy as it was a few weeks ago.
I've watched July 4th fireworks at Salt Lake's Sugarhouse Park for more than three decades.
Watched with my sweetheart before we got married. Watched them there together as newlyweds and young parents. A son remembers falling asleep on the Highland High football field when we watched them together as a family. He'll be a senior this year.
In the last few years, I've watched them from my neighbor's driveway, but last night I got on my bike and rode down to the park. A couple of my nephews were there somewhere on the practice field, but I didn't spot them. I didn't feel alone though. I felt that I was an American among Americans.
Maybe I'll try the bicycle approach again next year. And maybe I'll watch Avalon before I go.
