I've been thinking for some time now that I want this blog to be about MORE than me. I even went so far as to brainstorm a name and format for a whole new blog that was from it's start designed to be communal. For various reasons related to time, my continuing inability to read Chinese characters and a general lack of knowledge about how to make it happen I'm not going to launch the new site YET.

I am going to share a little bit of my vision with you all about what I'd like to do together. But to understand we need to take a trip back in time. From I don't know when I've been a talker. I talked with my Mom and my Aunt, with my Dad and my Grandma, with my friend Tom, with Jonathan, John and Joana, with Mr. Henry, Mr. Sharnbroich and Mr. Bruce.

In addition to talking I was a speaker, travelling with the Forensics team making people laugh and trying to make them think. I loved doing that, really, really loved. Love it now and wish I had done a better job of thanking the folks who gave me the chance. I was also on the radio, talking less and sharing music more, broadcasting the occasional ball game and basically living a dream. (Credit for that goes directly to Dad).

Time kept on and so did I, going to UAS where I watched ball games, wrote and ate with Mike Sica and Lori and Elle. Jonathan and I hung out between fishing trips and we'd get together to play pool or basketball.

Then at Humboldt I was back on the road, speaking and debating. Over the years the cast included Ponce (Where are you this time man?), Jon (RIP), Minnesota, Mad Dog and Crazy Tony on the dormfront and Mike, Paul, Steve, Matt, Dana, Daerielle, Greg, Big Yusef, Keenton, Alisha... we ate pizza, watched Kung-Fu movies, played basketball, "studied" Praying Mantis Kung-Fu.

There were talks in Portland with Phil and Ben and Tyler, Kathy and Virginia, Jake. I pushed with Sifu, Scott and David. I pushed with Jaime in the park and lectured Carol and Patty in class. I ate and with Mamadou and Samori (sp).

I came to Taiwan and lived with Mieca and Patrick, we argued talked and occasionally went to work. I'm still here riding bikes with Craig, teaching with Nathan and talking. But I've come to realize that it isn't just talking. Not in any way is it just anything.

When we talk we shape our world and our lives. What we say becomes who we are and how we feel. When we smile and laugh and play ball we're happy and healthy like Stephanie (currently holding court in Turkey).

Through speech we share ourselves, our worries and hopes, our jokes and thoughts. You all have been my community and even though we're really divided right now we're also united if we choose to be, if we choose to use this wonderful tool to be something more than one man's type written mumblings.

What I'd like to do is to make this site a place to converse. You all ready know the topics we've all discussed them before. The story is ours. Our continuing growth and confusion, what we're listening to when we get up or fade off to sleep, what we're hoping to do or hoping not to do, the games we're playing.

The way that this can work is if people will register to make comments and then make the comments (or email them to me). It can't be just me it needs to be us. Together we can make a place where we can share jokes, daily amusements as well as talking about bigger things like Lt. Ehren Watada's refusal to serve in Iraq.

It isn't the same as being physically together we can't play pushing hands or steal food off each others plates I can't stand on the wing and call for the ball but we can be together by uniting our minds.

If you're reading email me or comment let me know if this thing has legs.

judson.ryan@gmail.com