CHRIS ARVIDSON

words and art
 

Jun 30, 2010 6:10 AM EDT

Hey Chrissy, thanks for sharing your trip down memory lane. Enjoyed reading it and learned something new about you -- you were a California girl at one time!

- Kathy Finnie

Jun 30, 2010 7:43 AM EDT

We had a '57 Ford Fairlane 500, light blue & white. It never got to, but burned up roads connecting every lumber dealer north of Virginia and east of the Mississippi. When the engine died, Daddy had the local dealer drop in a used Thunderbird V-8. It became the dirt track champion of southern Wake County. They don't make cars like they used to!

- Mary O

Jun 30, 2010 8:06 AM EDT

Holy crap MOJ, are you sure you aren't from Detroit-a T-bird V8!

- Chris Arvidson

Jun 30, 2010 4:14 PM EDT

The stars in your dad's eyes, although a milder version, I imagine, remind me of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. I loved the way her dad could make things so magical for her.

The closest I came to a "cross country" trip at that age was actually "cross state" from Asheville to Wilmington. And we were a Chevy family, at least until daddy got pissed off with a salesman at the dealership and went across the street and bought a Falcon (which later became the famed vehicle in which I learned to drive). But the remembered cross state trip was in a dark green 1955 Chevy (I'm older than you kids) with upholstery made of a basket-weave of multi-bright-colored plastic strands. I thought it was very grand. But the most remembered event of the trip was a whipping that daddy gave me and my brother (one of only two I can every remember from him) when we were completely unable to "settle down". After a couple of stern warnings, I remember hearing and feeling the gravel under the tires and I knew we were actually "in for it". Fortunately, the soothing calm of the ocean awaited.

- Lynda

Jun 30, 2010 4:21 PM EDT

Loved those mesh seats and loved those Falcons. My Jr & Sr HS friend Ricky's dad had a red Falcon. We got in big trouble putting major miles on that puppy.

- Chris Arvidson

Jul 01, 2010 12:26 AM EDT

Rhe sheer scale is what's mind-boggling. I'm pretty sure neither of my parents drove a car much further than Penrith or Carisle in their entire lives. (I have a disinct memory, age c 11 of my father driving us from one junction to the next of the M6 near Penrith - I'm pretty sure his one and only experience of motoryway driving). The nearest thing to the Grapes Of Wrath we ever exeprienced was a Sunday afternoon excursion to Keswick . . .

- Nick

Jul 01, 2010 2:58 AM EDT

Yes, but how far did he go sailing a ship?

- Chris Arvidson

Jul 01, 2010 4:24 PM EDT

Family Vacation memories from childhood...
Summer of 1962: My folks drove from Grinnell,Iowa to Disneyland with us three kids. I don't remember it but the story goes that Dad ran into a Grinnell High School classmate in the parking lot of Disneyland. It's a small world!
Summer of 1968: Five kids in a pick up this a camper on it.
The folks thought I was with the boys in the back. The boys thought I was with the folks in the front. I got left behind at a gas station in nowhere S. Dakota. But, I chased the truck to catch it before it got back out on the road! I remember jumping up to knock on the window of the truck because I was too short to be visible otherwise and I was able to get Mom's attention. I don't recall being scared. My truck chasing became the most repeated of all family stories!
Chris, thanks for making me think back to old crossings!

- Neev

Jul 01, 2010 5:00 PM EDT

Neev, this is TOO funny!

- Chris Arvidson

May 15, 2010 4:18 AM EDT

...and I'll be there!! Can't wait. This winter I went to the keynote address of a writers conference in San Miguel. Barbara Kingsolver spoke of the same thing. I have a cd of he talk that I'll bring along. It's about the drips along the way of life that eventually lead to a book ... and how she files them away not knowing where they will go. On the other hand I do NOTHING without a deadline -- that's why ordinary things like dinner can be hours late!

- Christie

May 15, 2010 6:44 AM EDT

Chris, maybe I'm blocked, but it's more a problem of conflicting projects. I'm writing for the newspaper (no block there), setting up Quickbooks for 20 small businesses by year end, and trying to organize a large well-promoted craft fair for local vendors July 16-17. I keep telling myself things will get better when the craft fair is over , but then there's I've offered to do 501(c)(3) for two small organizations, one trying to spay-neuter animals on the reservation and the other trying to feed street people and provide meals, household necessities and social activities for low-income elders. Am I blocked? Or do I simply have a priority problem.

- Mary Olive

May 15, 2010 7:00 AM EDT

As long as you're ranting-you're not blocked!

- Chris Arvidson

May 18, 2010 4:58 PM EDT

The problem is just as you say, Chris: getting your butt in the seat and writing something. Sometimes anything is good, just to jumpstart the process. A friend who has written several books says he sometimes just sits there and types any nonsense that comes into his head, and eventually, what he really wants to say will pop up and, whoosh, he's off and running. But even if you try various things and they occasionally don't work, you have at least parked the butt and typed out Something. I've found that the trick is to make writing a steady, constant part of your everyday schedule. It doesn't have to be the same time every day (I dream of having that much discipline), but you can decide that at some point of every day, say, "before 3 o'clock," you're gonna write for X amount of time. Actually, for me, "every day" is a bit much, but definitely 5 days a week. Good luck with it -- the world needs more of your writing, so get off your lazy, good for nothing ass and PRODUCE, DAMN IT! (Sometimes you just have to get that jab to the ribs in order to get going.)

- Lil' Johnny

May 19, 2010 3:00 AM EDT

OK OK - I git it! Damn it. I hate it when other people besides me are right.

- Chris Arvidson

Apr 19, 2010 1:59 AM EDT

Chrissy -- You are great. And so is Emma. I am surrounded by talented people!

- BK

Apr 10, 2010 5:45 PM EDT

Tell me again why you are doing this? I love you and support you, 'Iss

- iss

Apr 10, 2010 5:59 PM EDT

Because it's fun! Come see me and we will all go out together - you will love it.

- Chris Arvidson

May 17, 2010 3:32 PM EDT

A nice essay, Chris. The "under the train" part reminds me of something I did in my much younger, much crazier days. Some equally crazy friends and I went through various barriers at the airport at night and laid on the ground just beyond where the planes take off. An unbelievable rush that just may be included in my "bucket list".

- Lynda

May 17, 2010 4:49 PM EDT

There's a park at the end of the runways at National in DC where people go have picnics and the planes take off right over you. It sounds like you got even closer! Good thing you did it back then; Homeland Security would surely jail your ass these days!

- Chris Arvidson

Feb 07, 2010 8:32 AM EST

I am so happy that you got your beloved snow! The pics are beautiful. Enjoy! We are supposed to get 6-10" on Tue. I hope that they are mistaken;)

- Carleen Jones

Feb 05, 2010 3:14 AM EST

I agree 100%!!! Call me sick, too, but I always, always enjoy winter weather.

- Henry Doss