Latched Up

A few years ago, I fired up my Mustang convertible and headed up the CA coast on Hwy 1, the classic route through Big Sur, to teach at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, and hang with some witty writers. Truly, one of the most jaw dropping roads I’ve been on, John and I had the top down with jackets on to fully experience the clean and salty ocean air and to best see the hills and mountains and redwoods and ocean cliffs.

An awesome road, but my amazement came from seeing about two dozen Mustang convertibles. A rental agency in Carmel, I guess. And no better way to enjoy that stretch than a convertible—unless…

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Don't Trust Your Experiences

For about four years, one night each week I’d head east from Oxnard to Newbury Park on Potrero Road, the old Conejo Grade, much was steep and winding with fine curves…ideal for my Mustang ragtop. Returning uphill at 10 PM, Potrero had no traffic at all, and I could let the Mustang be the sports car Ford designed. When approaching a curve, I let off the gas to decrease my speed…braking while turning doesn’t give you optimal control. No one ever caught or passed me on that road, and I felt pretty confident about my cornering, until…

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Changes and Mistakes

Funny how some changes and mistakes can benefit us. Although a regular at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers conference near Santa Cruz, I missed the previous seven years before returning in 2016. However, my confidence never dimmed regarding directions, so I left the map at home. Never even glanced at it. A well-traveled route. But Palm Sunday came early that year, right at the switch to Daylight Savings Time, and the conference changed its close from lunch to a 7:15 breakfast, so I left in the darkness at 6 AM, hoping to beat the metro LA afternoon traffic.

Those changes led to my mistake. You need…

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