Finding the courage to be interesting

When I decided to do this I started browsing random blogs. I started to wonder who on Earth could possible give a shit that this person just went grocery shopping or that person has 2.4 "amazing" kids that just did the cutest thing. Everyone thinks their own kids are amazing and most everyone shops for groceries. Then I found someone who had won the lottery. OK, now that could be interesting. How has their sudden millionaire status affected their life and relationships? The most intriguing blogs however were from people who seemed to be entirely uninhibited about telling the truth, no matter how dark or personal or embarrassing it might be. Sure, to some extent it's a car wreck that I had to slow down and take a look at, but mostly I was just impressed and a little jealous of that kind of courage. My hope is that maybe I clock in somewhere between grocery shopping and winning the PowerBall on the wow meter. But here's the thing - it ain't costing either of us a dime. If I'm boring, stop reading. It won't hurt my feelings, I swear.

I have had a colorful career. Currently I am a commercial pilot working for an aerial mapping company. I'm originally from the Kansas City area but I travel the United States in a single engine Cessna doing all that nifty "satellite" photography you see when you try to find your house in one of those online map applications. Actually, I am not a photographer at all. I fly the airplane. There is an on-board computer that tells me where to fly and controls a pretty high-tech camera array. I do get the chance to snap some cool pics with my own digital camera.

I spent many years in the music business. Drummer, then bassist, songwriter, recording artist, engineer, producer. The whole time, convinced I'd be a rock star. I have played in arenas, in cities where I had sold a significant number of records, where the radio stations were spinning our single and the crowd was singing my lyrics back to me. Not everyone that dreams of being a rock star is able to experience that and I wouldn't trade it for the world. But, as it turns out I'd have to settle for being a semi-success (or a semi-failure). Selling 30,000 copies of a release in pre-iTunes 1994, while nothing to sneeze at, was not nearly enough to make a dent in the industry. Still, there are stories to be told from that era. The question is, Do I have the courage to be interesting? How much can I tell from those days without hurting feelings, wrecking relationships, embarrassing myself and alienating myself from people in the music biz. I may have to change names to protect the innocent and the guilty.

I am also politically outspoken and that presents a danger as well. I recently lost a friend to a political disagreement, although I suppose one could look at that as Darwinistic, inevitable, necessary.

I guess we'll see how this experiment works. If you are still with me, THANK YOU. I'll try not to waste your time.

Bryan