But no, my bee hind has been planted in a hard chair in my home as I've stared at a screen (the one I'm staring at right now), Tweeting, Googling, and Facebooking. These terms are quite new, but frequently employed in this screen oriented age we live in.
I forgot to mention "blogging", and that's obviously what I'm doing in this moment. I'm also watching the clock because I've got an appointment in 40 minutes.
I've got a book coming out on June 11 called God On The Rocks; Distilling Religion, Savoring Faith from Jericho books, and a CD called "pm" coming out around the same time. And the only way you can market anything these days is to blog, tweet, and FB about it.
But I've got something else up my sleeve.
I want to get away from the screen, and connect with human beings in non-virtual places.
I need a road trip.
If I'm going to be seated, I'm thinking it needs to be in a car. If you've been reading my blog, you know I love old Fords, particularly Falcons, particularly Falcon station wagons, and even more particularly, Falcon Country Squire wagons- you know the car- it's got fake wood sides.
I just gave my old Infiniti SUV to one of my daughters. And I'm driving a 2001 Lexus sedan. It's got a lot of pep, and I've even road tripped a bit with it. But the romance isn't there. The only Japanese car that contains any road romance to it is perhaps a Toyota FJ60, the cool mid '80s SUV. With lousy seats.
And we can't have that, because I think this blog is about sitting.
I'm not all that patriotic, but nothing really compares to American cars, at least if you're writing a story.
So, this summer, after I get back from Norway (I know, I know... what a life), I want to hit every bookstore and listening room from Savannah to Boston, and I want to drive. I've got books and CDs to hawk, and I've also got to start another book.
Why not write my next one on the road? Now that God On The Rocks is about to be in print, I need to follow it up with more stories about real life, and where better to find those stories than on the highways and byways.
Are you with me? Anyone want a lift?
I'm thinking of seeing the East Coast through the windshield of a Ford Flex. Seems like the closest thing I'm going to find to an old Falcon wagon, where all my early road trips started. Boxy and nostalgic looking without being really stupid looking like a PT Cruiser. Sounds good to me. As long as it's black.
www.philmadeira.net
I totally admire Japanese engineering, my Camery runs like a Swiss watch. But when it comes to parking my the seat for a road trip, I have always rented an American car. These folks should really get together and compare notes. Or just ask me (heh).
ReplyDeleteWow, I was censored. Guess I should have said "parking my posterior..."
ReplyDeleteWow... it wasn't be buddy. I love your a**...
Deletepax pm
;-)
DeletePM~ will we be able to buy your book directly from you?
ReplyDeleteWould love to see you out west for that book tour... but that's a bit of a drive! :)
after Jume 12 on www.philmadeira.net
DeleteThanks!
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Love the Ford Falcon connection Phil! That was our families first automobile back in 1963.
ReplyDeleteGreatest cars ever, Steve!
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"I was dream'n about my old Falcon, 3 on the tree,
ReplyDeletewhenever daddy got mad, that Ford would set me free
Daddy's long gone now, maybe he's watching me,
...punch it and go"
My Falcon Story entitled.. "FALCON CRUSHES CORVETTE"
ReplyDeleteOkay, so my dad had his first "company car" and I was about 13 years of age...and I thought 'this is very cool, daddy-o has a
'company car' and we, apparently, have "arrived". It was a celery green, two door 1962 Ford Falon...six cylinder, with three speed shift on the column (or, "tree", apparently). Cigarette lighter deleted. Anyway, dad and I were cruising the greater hometown neighborhood when we spied a young family friend walking with her dog (a french poodle named "Charmaine") along 30th St. We waved. Dad and I. Dad was pretty darned transfixed on the young family friend, but I, riding shotgun, said''or--perhaps screamed, as the case may be-- dad, "LOOK OUT".... But it was too late.
A brand new 1963 Corvette Stingray roadster (or do we now say 'Cabriolet'?) had backed out of a driveway directly in front of us...and...while dad was enthusiastically waving to said girl on the other side of 30th St....we made direct impact with the passenger side door (and front and rear starboard side fenders of said 1963 corvette stingray roadster). The crazy thing (63 vette) just kind of shattered, gave up the ghost and sat there--pieces of a shattered fiberglass puzzle on the pavement at 30th St. Passenger door along with front and rear passenger side fender. DOA.
The kid backing out of the driveway in the "Sting Ray" had been driving his older brother's Vette sans permission and begged us (me and dad) not to "report him to the authorities". (I was cool with that, and I think dad kind of came along beside me).
But, 'moral of the story', the FALCON was unblemished. While the Corvette had been crushed. I was forever impressed and will always trust my life, et al, to the mighty Falcoon.
The end... --30--
Wow, that's fantastic, Biff. Such an American tale!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
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