Look Mom, No Hands

One day this week my son and I got a late start leaving for school. We hopped on our bikes and pedaled like maniacs, and once we were past the busiest section of our route and had made up a little time, I turned to my sidekick to see if he wanted to stop quickly to unzip his jacket.

And, lo — there he was, already casually working his zipper with both hands.

As in, neither hand on the handlebars — something I had no idea he could even do, let alone master it.

Not five minutes earlier, we’d passed a family shepherding two little kiddos on bikes who were clearly beginners, as wobbly and unsteady as newborn giraffes. I smiled, remembering when my little guy was at that stage. Then, in the blink of an eye, he’s already almost nine years old, riding no hands as casually and confidently as a teenager cruising around town.

A few days ago, a friend asked us an interesting question: Does our offspring identify more as American or Dutch? The answer was fairly easy: American. But those cycling skills? Decidedly Dutch.

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In Case You Missed this Scary Cool Recent News …

I’m thrilled to announce that I’m writing the upcoming National Geographic title 100 Haunts of a Lifetime! This project blends two of my lifelong obsessions: travel and all things spooky, haunted, or creepy. (And yes, I will be visiting some of these places to do some on-the-ground reporting!).

The book is scheduled for a fall 2027 publication date. My outline is due in a few short months, and that’s where you come in. I’d love to hear about any spooky destinations you know about, whether it’s a haunted hotel or graveyard; creepy ghost town; or an entire city (New Orleans, I’m looking at you!).

I’ve created this Google form to track responses. A good gauge for your picks: Does this place make the hair on the back of your neck stand up or give you goosebumps? If so, I want to hear about it! A few things to keep in mind:

• Think beyond just ghosts: Destinations associated with local legends/myths around cryptids; aliens; or other unexplained phenomena are all fair game! I'm casting as wide a net as possible with my research.

• No “dark tourism" destinations tied to genocide or mass murder (I know many spooky places are associated with death and violence, so this is admittedly complicated.)

• Please ABSOLUTELY NO seasonal hotel packages, haunted hayrides, trick-or-treating events, etc. Think places, not once-a-year events.

You can also pitch me separately at 100haunts@gmail.com (please, no responses to this newsletter or to my other email address; I’m trying to keep this project organized and contained.). Thanks again for your help, and let’s get this spooky show on the road!

And That’s a Wrap!

Today I went for a walk to enjoy the beautiful sunshine, the last vestiges of summer before fall fully takes over. As I hoofed it along the trail en route to my favorite local park, my poor gimpy knee — the one that’s had two ACL surgeries, and, somehow, yet another torn ACL — felt almost normal for the first time in what felt like ages, thanks to a cortisone shot a couple of days ago. And, whaddya know, I decided to speed it up a little, and I sped up my gait into a slow jog for just a few minutes. Then I did it again, and later, again.

I haven’t gone for a proper run in months (see: aforementioned knee issues), so this less-than-a-kilometer effort was a pretty big deal. I hope I can do it again soon.

Here’s to the small victories, and here’s to a weekend that hopefully has a few more in store.

‘Till next time,

Blane

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