What a year it’s already been as we reach the midway point of 2021—the Summer Solstice! Masks, lockdowns, the VACCINE. While it’s been hard for many to stay focused and productive, I had no problem with that. With fewer distractions, I focused my energies in a few areas…
Writing & Book Publishing
Just as the astronomical year reaches its halfway point on our annual spin around the sun, I recently passed the halfway point in the writing of my new novel, the third book in my time-travel novel series: NEANDER.
In the meantime, I’ve been working on the subtitle and playing with some cover ideas. The book will be out before the end of the year, bringing my fiction total to four novellas and four novels. Sales and page reads are ongoing, and I’m glad people are enjoying my stories. And I recently had fun with some of the news about masking (and yes, I’m fully vaccinated)…
Swimming
Another bright spot for me in the first half of 2021 was the early opening of the outdoor pool I swim in. The water in April was cold (64F/18C) at the start, but what a way to jolt the day awake! Because of COVID, lane reservations were required with other logical restrictions. And it was usually only us crazy swimmers in the big, beautiful pool.
Enjoying My Surroundings
Tied into staying at home more over the past months, I got in the habit of exploring the neighborhood and my small property in more detail. And fixing things around the house with my wife.
For my fitness—when I wasn’t swimming—I took daily “power hikes” on a half-mile trail I built around the premises.
Reconnecting with Family
And I took the time to connect more with my far-flung family. I’m now doing a weekly Zoom with my first cousin in Germany. I get to practice my German (my first language), and Thomas practices his English. He’s having a harder time with Neanderthalese!
And as this is remote-posting, I’m currently in Austin, Texas (my first plane flight in over a year!) to help my sister move our mother into assisted living. Not the happiest thing to do, but I’m enjoying spending time with them all.
So on this day of the solstice, I feel like I’m emerging from a cave and into the light. How about you?
— Harald
P.S. If there are any comments here I don’t respond to, it’s because I’m traveling back home. I’ll get to them.
Hi Herald! Sorry I missed you in Austin. Good to see you being adventurous and living your dreams. I’m settled in Austin and publishing books as the owner of Plain View Press. I recently came across the press release you wrote about me leaving LA for my cross-country Bicentennial trip. Remembered the great photographer for the island to island swim in Maui and the photo of you that is now in the Swimming Hall of fame? That was so fun, showing up in Maui and having an entourage of handsome simmers greet Gail and I at the airport! Back in the 70’s, and here we are, going strong!
Hello Pam after all these years! Wow. Here’s that photo (taken by Gail or you?) on the cover of SWIM SWIM in 1981:
https://haraldjohnson.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Scan-SWIMSWIM_hjMauiChnl_2472x3246_2_x800_75q.jpg
That magazine is, in fact, in the permanent collection of International Swimming Hall of Fame somewhere.
Very cool that you’re publishing in Austin. I loved the “Ode to Swimming” video!
As you can see, I’m taking a very different approach to authoring/publishing.
I’ll pop you an email…
Yes, that’s the pic! I took it! Surely the magazine gave the proper credit. I also printed an 11×14 and sent it to the Swimming Hall of Fame, where it resides somewhere in the ether. I had orders from swimmers around the world for awhile, so that was fun!
I am guessing that Neander is really your secret life! I do remember your interest in novellas even way back when.
Yep… just found the magazine, and the cover credit reads: “COVER: Lone swimmer [me!] in the Maui Channel, Hawaii. Photo/Pamela Knight.”
I love that shot and glad others did, too. And I can spot my swim stroke easily, and you were able to capture that image at exactly the right moment with the arm coming over. But something I didn’t notice before: I just found a photo of me in the swimming race around Manhattan two years later, and it’s the same position on the other arm! See and compare:
https://haraldjohnson.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DailyNews4_072118_784x_55q_2.jpg
— Neanderthal Swimmer
Un petit signe amical depuis la France ! Merci de tes nouvelles !
Et envoie moi des cerises !
PS: Un peu de Français pour te changer de l’Allemand ..
Amitiés
Philippe
Salut Philippe!
Je viens de vous expédier les cerises via le canal de Suez, d’accord ?
Merci d’avoir commenté ici !
— Harald
Good stuff, Harald! I particularly liked the cherry trees photograph. Great shot!
I was slowed down by the pandemic because I couldn’t work in my office, with it’s wifi, power outlets and coffee – Starbucks. It’s nigh impossible for me to write on my boat… I think I need to be surrounded by people like at Triathlete magazine to get anything done! LOL.
Keep up the great work, HJ! Give my best to Lynn!
Rich
Good to hear from you, Rich. Just make sure the people you surround yourself with are vaxxed to the max. Onward, old friend!
How can anyone know who’s vaxxed and who is not? 😉
We’ve enjoyed the pools at our retirement community in Davis, Ca, a lot – through the silly time restrictions, and three-people-to-a-pool limitations.
Enjoying the flowers – I ride my Airwheel S8 (like a bicycle seat on a hoverboard) around URC, and out on the Davis greenway, and sit and take in the fragrances.
We’ve saw our daughters a few weeks ago when we were allowed to have visitors again – one from Troy, NY, and one from San Francisco. We’ve all had zoom meetings with family – glad they were available, but you can’t hug people via zoom. We had our son’s wedding via zoom last Oct., and can’t wait until we go in person for the party this October.
The days getting longer was nice – but we haven’t been getting to bed on time because it was still light.
So looking forward to the rest of 2021.
Hi Alicia! Three people max to a pool? Seems a bit extreme. Glad things are getting back to normal for you. And happy Post Solstice and balance of 2021.
Happy Solstice from our sun loving chickens 🐓 and sunflowers 🌻. So happy to have you here in Texas with us all ☀️!
Happy Solstice, KJ! Am certainly enjoying the sunflowers, chickens, and ya’ll.
Nice to hear from you and I’m looking forward to the new book.
Thank you, Tim. Am working on it (with a slight break while traveling). Happy Solstice!
Thanks HJ for the Solstice Update on Father’s Day Juneteenth Ides of 2021 Weekend, Amen! RM
Thanks for comment, RM! Love the Ides of 2021.
There’s an interesting interview I’m reading. It speaks to the Neander satiric mask-wearing image. The question raised, in both cases, is/was the concern– however draconian– to save one human life. BUT, those advising that idea forgot to ask ‘what IS a human life’? Along the way, the essay points out that historically “Europeans have never concealed the face, except the executioner’s.” I bet Neander will have something to say about what it means to be human.😉
Excellent point, Joe. Neander is currently traveling through Texas and will be pondering the meaning of this.
Happy Solstice, Harald, and thanks for the update! Here’s a toast to brighter days ahead!
Happy Solstice, Tim! Keep that sun shining in Los Angeles for me.