By: Chuck Miller
Writing

My blog is now officially old enough to drive a car.

Although I wrote a few proto-blogs back in the mid-2000’s, mostly on the blogspot.com portal, this blog’s official birthdate is August 25, 2009. That was the first time my blog appeared in the Albany Times Union’s blogfarm. That lasted until 2017, when I migrated the blog to an independent platform.

And from August 25, 2009 to today, I have not missed a single day. Every day in that time period has included at least one blog post. That’s a 16-year-long unbroken stretch. 5,843 consecutive days.

16 years. Technically, my blog can now get a learner’s permit and drive a car. My blog can also date someone and try to borrow my car keys.

16 years. What was I doing 16 years ago? Hmm …

Oh, yeah. I was celebrating my 46th birthday. Yep, my blog and I have the same birth date. August 25.

So that makes me 62 years old as of today.

Damn. I made it this far.

Okay, now for the check. Who did I outlive? What famous 61-year-olds passed away before they reached age 62?

A quick peek.

I outlived the following people:

  • Ernest Hemingway
  • Samuel Coleridge
  • Anthony Bourdain
  • Billy Martin
  • Hoyt Axton
  • James Fenimore Cooper
  • Dan Seals (of Seals and Crofts)
  • Billy Farrell (of Boney M)
  • Benigno Aquino of the Phillippines
  • Benito Mussolini
  • Willie Stargell (my first baseball hero)

Among many others.

Wow. I’m 62, and my blog is officially 16.

This blog started during the Obama Administration – the FIRST Obama Administration. Heck, I just picked up my artworks from my first Altamont Fair showing. I was still living in Pine Hills, just two short years away from declaring my own personal freedom and moving to the Town and Village of Green Island.

I started this blog five cars ago – before Lightning’s Girl, before Dracourage, before the Blackbird, before Cardachrome, back when my ride was a 1991 Pontiac 6000 that I commandeered from my Grandma Betty despite her having cataracts AND a valid Massachusetts driver’s license.

Wow, back then I was shooting with a Nikon D70. And a kit lens. And an ISO that couldn’t go above 1600. Wow. Cosmic, bro.

It’s been a long, wild journey these 16 years on the blog. And it’s been a long, wild journey these 62 years on the planet.

But I hope you stay with me as the ride continues.

And trust me. I’m driving. No way am I giving a blog my car keys. Ain’t happening. 😀