Life, Love and the Human Condition

About Me: Mark D. Jones - (Originally posted on April 5, 2009)

The other day in an e-mail conversation with a friend I commented, “My perfect job would be one where all I had to do was think – about anything and everything.”  Thankfully I do have a day job!       What this blog allows me to do though is to think about all the many facets of life, write down my views and opinions, and allow anyone in the whole world to read them – a pretty amazing concept!  I don’t mind if you don’t agree with my ponderings…we all approach life from a slightly different angle and that’s what makes us all unique.  I’ll concentrate mostly on the philosophical side of life…the area that most interests me.

Actually, thinking and writing have always been my passion; however, the writing side of it over the years has taken a back seat to the rest of life for a while now.  I was discussing with a friend the other day about how little we both knew about blogs, and she said to me, “Mark, you should write a blog!”  You always know when an idea hits you across the forehead or the little cartoon light bulb goes on above your head – this was just such a moment for me – “serendipity” we call it.  That night I struggled with the software to set this blog up, which is actually very easy for anyone with half a clue, and wrote my first entry – “Welcome To My World! ”  It was an exciting moment for me, and an opportunity to write down my thoughts and perhaps have someone actually read them.

Since I was in the 6th grade I had always wanted to be a Veterinarian, and after a challenging year and a half of pre-Veterinary studies at college, it became clear that Veterinary Medicine wasn’t in my future.  I had never really traveled much from my home state of Michigan, so I decided to go on a great adventure.  The Lord of the Rings were always my favorite books, and I yearned to wander off down a winding path into a distant forest like Bilbo or Frodo Baggins - so I decided to take a journey and go on a great adventure…and now that I’m reflecting on that decision years later, I’m still living my adventure - and it’s called Life!

Since I didn’t have much cash; didn’t own a car, motorcycle or a horse; and walking would take much too long to get anywhere – I decided to bicycle around the United States.  Everyone thought I was foolish for dropping out of college, but I didn’t care, and I set about planning my trip.  I had maps everywhere in my dorm room as I pondered my upcoming quest – not quite the search for the “Holy Grail” but it was to be my own great adventure regardless.  I talked Bruce, a friend of mine, into going on the trip with me and in the Fall of 1976 - America’s Bi-Centennial Year - we rode on down the highway to start our great adventure.

After almost a year and 8,000 miles of pure adventure, no accidents or major injuries and most of our wits still about us, we ended the trip in Seattle.  We had traveled from Michigan to the east coast; down to Key West, Florida; along the Gulf coast to Texas; on to Colorado; and up to Seattle, Washington.  Bruce returned to Michigan to continue his life, but I never really stopped living my adventure…it only took on many different aspects and filled chapter upon chapter – but it really has never stopped!

Before my bicycle trip I had written some poetry, and had tried without success to write some song lyrics and music.  I knew that I enjoyed writing, and during the bike trip I kept a log book of our travels.  After a few years in Seattle and various adventures in the northwest, including co-piloting a hot air balloon, I left on a Pan Am 747 bound for London, England – with my trusty bicycle but all by myself this time.  Over a few months I rode through England, Scotland, Wales and France and then returned home to Seattle – but my adventures continued on.  After a while I decided to return to college to study business and earned my diploma in Business Administration.  Pondering what my future life in an office cubicle would be like, I decided instead to choose adventure once again.  I had always wanted to be a fighter pilot and fly jets, so I joined the Air Force and spent 20 years as a Navigator (Weapon Systems Officer) in the fighter world – I couldn’t qualify as a fighter pilot because I wore glasses.

My Air Force adventure took me to Europe again for 16 more years.  I spent 8 years in Germany, where I met and married my wife (of 24 years now – as of January 2010), and 8 years living in the quaint English countryside.  I flew jets and lived my dream.  I deployed to the Persian Gulf War - so I really did become a Vet, just a different kind of Vet than I had imagined back in 6th grade – a military Veteran of the United States Armed Forces.  While overseas I was able to travel throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East…and what an adventure and experience it turned out to be! 

Over all those years I continued to write.  I kept a logbook of my European bicycle adventure, wrote my autobiography back in 1994, penned about 200 copyrighted songs (music and lyrics), and finished an adventure novel called “Jonathan’s Dream.”  The problem is that none of them have ever been published and they are all currently stored away in boxes.  I know that my life has been unique, and that I have experienced many things and have seen many places in this world, however, I never stopped thinking or viewing life as a great adventure.  It is those thoughts that I’d like to share with you in this blog, if you like, and expound on the truth about life as I know it to be.  If anything that I write in this blog is of assistance to you as you contemplate your own adventures in life, then the entire process will have been worth it for me!  I’ll try to add a little something every day, and eventually I’ll post my previous writings as well.

I’m staying close to home these days, but my adventures still continue… only now they’re more philosophical in nature – instead of on a bicycle or strapped into a jet.  I’m content with that…after all, adventures are hard work!  Now I can just sit down at the computer! 

As for other interests of mine, my favorite music is Progressive Rock:  Genesis; Yes; Rush; Pink Floyd; Emerson, Lake & Palmer; King Crimson; etc.; followed by Classic Rock, Contemporary Christian and Christian Rock as well.  My favorite book to study is the Bible and as for pleasure reading:  any newspaper or web site, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.  My favorite movies are The Lord of the Rings series and any good Romantic Comedy.  My favorite colors are soft pastels of any shade.  My favorite holiday is Christmas along with the entire Advent Season.        

Thanks for stopping by - enjoy your day and come around for another visit sometime!  If you want to contact me directly one of these days you can email me at:  mark.d.jones  @cox.net (close the gap when sending an email to me), or write to me at:

Mark D. Jones

 ”Life, Love and the Human Condition”

P.O. Box 27785

Tucson, AZ 85726

U.S.A.

Until then – Cheers, 

Mark