It’s funny, but when I hear the word riding, what I first think of is horseback riding as depicted in the novels of Rita Mae Brown. Given the Google image results that were heavy on pictures of bicycles and motorcycles, I suspect that many other people think of something quite different when they hear the word riding. One sort of riding I definitely did not think of was roller coaster riding. Although this picture, of a roller coaster at Holiday World in Indiana was a very attention grabbing result. Honestly, I don’t go on roller coasters any more, though I have some fond memories of when I used to.
Today is not in fact the anniversary of anything in particular that I know of. Ron and I celebrate our anniversary on February 1st. I remember that my parent’s wedding anniversary was December 23rd. It seems to me that anniversaries are more for couple’s to celebrate privately, rather than occasions their friends should be expected to remember. I suppose that the word anniversary also applies to remembering past events, for instance the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist bombings will be coming up in September. Mostly, I think I’m just a lot more interested in stumbling into and discovering the future, rather than counting up anniversaries from the past.
Sometimes, I really enjoy editing. When writers have something to say it can be so rewarding to help them polish their drafts into quality work. Editing for length is somewhat less fun, though as I’ve said many times it is often actually much harder to write something short and concise rather than rambling on. I always used to really hate (on principle) those Reader’s Digest Condensed Books. While there were a few Really long novels (thinking of Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe here) that might have been improved by being brought down in size, for the most part it seems to me that the words are the joy of fiction– I just hated the idea of someone rewriting a novel to cut 50–75% of the word length. I apologize that this post is several days over due. Some days it seems I just sit down and crank these posts out, and other days it seems I simply can’t. C’est la vie. My thanks today to Catherine Donnelly who suggested these three words.
Libdrone's Thoughts and Musings 
Thanks for yet another thrilling “roller coaster” ride of a journey of 3 words ! Just a thought – and I know that it might make it even more challenging – but do you feel you want to attempt to bring “connections” between the three words as well – in the post ? Cheers ! Abhijit
Sometimes I do make connections between the three words, but sometimes I don’t. Some words just seem to lend themselves more to associating with their peers than others.
Very interesting !!!
Not sure my body can handle the coasters like it used to either.
it’s been years since I’ve ridden a roller coaster. I loved them as a child but honestly, I just feel too old for all that rattling. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Happy Anniversary, early. Interesting.
Here’s a stretch: speaking of Reader’s Digest Condensed books: Did you hear that “My Weekly Reader” was retired today? 🙂 What does that leave us with? Google +, the Reader’s Digest of the internet!
I’m not offhand familiar with Weekly Reader, Susan. And I continue to avoid G+, simply because I don’t like it.
If only I could remember what I was doing on this day a year ago or even two years ago, of any of my sixty one years, it would surely be an anniversary of something.
My friend Bev has for many, many years now published a daily journal (http://funnythworld.com). When she started there was no WordPress or Blogspot and she is continuing to use her own custom coded web site, though she mirrors her posts on Blogspot so that folks can subscribe by RSS. One of the great the things about keeping a journal is that you can always go back and look at what was going on and what you were talking about a year ago or two years ago or however long you keep it up. (The collection of links to this day in previous years that appears each day is a real highlight of Bev’s journal for me.)
You remind us about 9/11. Whatever importance we may or may not attach to anniversaries, it is chilling that Al Qaida and similar groups do seem to attach great importance to the numerology of dates. 911 is what you dial in the US for the emergency services. A coincidence? I think not. (Particularly as most of us would write the date 11/9). The London bombings took place on 7/7. Again, I think not a coincidence.
I find myself curious, Laura, about the date order question. I know that here in the US we put the month first and then the day, and I know that in the UK you put the day first and then the month (savvy folks usually try to type something like JUL 26 to avoid confusion). But what about the rest of the world? Is this another case where we Americans refuse to accept what is standard the world over or is it more of a local option kind of thing?
[Cough] As a matter of fact, I woke up in the night thinking that this remark of mine might have sounded a touch imperious. I think it has something to do with our having an empire on which the sun never set – there, I’ve said it.
Anywhere we had any influence used Fahrenheit, day/month/year, drove on the left side of the road etc and ignored the metric system. (What I just said is broadly true, so you are not going to spoil it by pointing out the one or two exceptions, are you?!)
Of course, once they had thrown off our imperialist yoke, some of our former colonies were quick to change these symbols of their past association with us Brits. One country, which shall remain nameless, decided to move to driving on the right hand side of the road. With hyper-efficiency, the government issued a proclamation: Heavy vehicles would change sides one Monday, and ordinary cars, scooters etc, would change the following day. Mayhem of course ensued, much to the wicked schadenfreude of the Brits. True story.
Happy anniversary Alan; a bit early, yes, but it’s never too early to celebrate life and love. As for condensing novels, I remember always wishing that my favourite books were longer, so the experience and joy could go on and on.
I’m totally with you on mostly wishing that good books were longer. I remember when Stephen King published IT being just gaga about the more than 1200 pages in the first hardcover edition. (And you’re also right I think that it’s best to try to celebrate each day, counting our successes and blessings and not dwelling on negative things that are invariably in our lives.)
Happy Anniversary Alan
An amusement park and a farm all in one:)
Love your condensed writings and your use of three words 🙂 When I think of riding, I think of a motorcycle or bike, as well. I don’t think much about roller coasters, though, because In my “older” age, I don’t enjoy them as much. Glad to see you highlighted one of our Indiana amusement parks !
I’m glad to hear I am not the only one who has gotten too old to ride roller coasters. My late huzband, Joel, was a huge fan of Disneyland and I spent rather a lot of time at that Southern California theme park. Sadly, Joel had a horrible asthma and panic attack on an old wooden coaster at Knott’s Berry Farm one Halloween night. He never went on another coaster himself but he continued to insist on visiting the parks and invariably urged me to ride while he sat on a bench and watched. I really miss him.
Huge fan of Disneyland, can’t wait to go again!!!
Interesting
Love that roller coasters got into this one. Honored you used my words 🙂
As soon as I saw the pic, i thought of the Wildcat roller coaster in Conneaut, PA. Looking at the burgers, I now am heading out to buy a sandwich.
just looking down the roller coaster makes me panic!!
horseback riding ???
that’s the first thing that comes to mind???
oh no – Hawg Riding!!!
~ Live to Ride – Ride to Live ~