Turn on the Lights

It never ceases to amaze me how reading one tiny article can ignite my editorial interests so quickly. I won't lie, my heart was a-flutter before even turning the page. But I haven't felt this way about writing and editing since my junior or senior year in J school.

I was able to ascertain—or at least further confirm—the essence of someone, or some event or place, through a roughly two-page article. This is not breakthrough, I realize, but the way words encapsulate a passion or hobby and tell a story, a good story, has fueled my interest for years. I've always loved reading those stories more than producing them, and often the goal, a finished product, gets in the way of writing. Now, finally as an editor I can allow myself to be amazed and challenged again. It's as if the lampshade was taken off the editor part of my brain and I'm shining brightly with all bulbs blazing once again

My published writing in the past 16 months almost causes me to quiver in my clogs. I somehow managed to stumble through physician and consumer publications, article after article, for that long, not as confident as I prefer to feel about my work.

I feel my career coming together, literally at my job, but more figuratively like a well-composed article that uses different figures of speech (in this case, life experiences, friends and acquaintances) and examples to come to a beautiful conclusion. Well, that's a pretty lame metaphor...but you get the idea.

I bike to be free!

I woke up to booming thunder and rain hitting my windows. I had been waiting for the line of T-storms to hit this morning, anticipating a frightful commute to work.

However, my fears were quelled by—who would've guessed—the Chattanooga Times Free Press!

This morning's paper was simply PACKED with pro-commuter, pro-cyclist information. The cover story discussed the push for a "complete street" concept to be included in future road construction and reconstruction.

A4 featured our very own Colleen Carboni and discussed her dedication to commuting. I consider Colleen to be my commuting mentor. I used to see her cycling in high school when I worked at the G. Who knew years later I'd so look forward to cycling with Colleen and Q and bike to work and Q's breakfast on the bridge, which I've been eagerly anticipating for months.

Colleen is a real inspiration. She talks of crazy commutes out to Lee Hwy, and I admire her steadfast dedication to her cycling and "locavore" ethics. I LOVE running into Colleen. She helps keep me positive when others get me down.

B1 featured a blurb about the Bicycling magazine article I mentioned in the previous post. The article quoted some bike shop gurus, including Mike Teff of the local Trek store. Apparently he's a full-time carless commuter as well! Congrats again, Chattanooga—we have so much to work toward.

I could barely control my enthusiasm for Bicycling magazine's designation for Chattanooga. I'm discovering that writing about cycling for transportation is one of the my favorite topics. Combine my love of Chattanooga with springtime weather? Recipe for success.

And in closing:

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving."
— Albert Einstein