I started Upright & Stowed at the beginning on 2006 as a way of encouraging myself to write, to think broadly, to embrace the spirit of travel, and to share my ideas and opinions with friends, family and whoever else who might be interested.
Some things have changed since 2006. Most significantly the political landscape has changed. My frame of mind shifted from Bush-era pondering, plotting, talking, sighing, strategizing, decrying and disbelieving … to Obama-era imagining, hoping, dreaming, agonizing and finally celebrating. In some ways it was easier for me to write when I was angry and seeking change than in my current state of blessed relief.
Another huge change during my blogging years has been the explosion of social media. The rise of Facebook has been jaw dropping in both speed and impact. It has changed the way we engage. And while my contributions to Facebook are short and shaped to grab attention, there’s no denying that one brief status update on Facebook is seen by more of my friends than any longer, carefully crafted blog entry. That instant feedback is pretty satisfying, if you’re trying to connect.
Finally, I have been doing far less travel in the past 6 months than ever before. Since Upright & Stowed is meant to use travel and globalism as a filter for everything I write here, my stationary state has had an impact on my writing inspiration. My hope is to be traveling a lot, and soon.
So there’s the explanation of my summertime writing absence. I feel change a-stirring … and I expect to ratchet up the writing soon. Stay tuned.
Note Bene: That's my new nautical star tattoo, by the way. Even though I'm not smiling in this shot, I love it.
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