The Google update surprised me. I actually liked that Google tracked the places that I went during the month. On a trip, I was exploring the area to see where our eating options were. One of the locations alerted me that I had been there two years previously. I hadn't remembered that but took it as a "nice to know" piece of data. I also enjoyed knowing that photos I had contributed had over 4 million views. Once in-a-while I did see the data as negative. It alerted me that I was spending over 10 hours a week commuting to work in my car. That made me not like commuting and that I should get a vehicle that had a better mile per gallon rating! This AI image is your brain algorithm processing the data. Maybe?
My motorcycle got 45 miles to the gallon but there was no way I wanted to fight commuter traffic for 90 miles every day. My cousin was a sales manager for a car dealership and he took my Harley in on trade. As I took my last long ride south to his dealership I became aware of the memories I passed on this beautiful sunny day. It reminded me of another data point; Most people die within 50 to 200 miles of where they were born. I realized that I was even on the lower end, 15 miles from where I came into the world. As I passed my memories with the stereo volume up I was grateful for the familiarity of this piece of the world.
Janis Joplin 's "Take Another Piece of My Heart" is one that was on my playlist for that trip. The song is about a relationship that she can't walk away from and so just sings, "take another piece of my heart". The blessing is staying in one place even when the grass seems greener on the other side of the fence.
CROPS is the acronym for me that I try to consider in all my important decisions. I think it's fitting because CROPS are one of the driving forces in the economy of the area I live in. Creative, Record, Ordered, Places, and Sacrifice is my non-scientific algorithm. Sacrifice is something that can be forgotten but in the right context it can be a source of strength for the decision leading to the trading your Harley for that commuter car. On sunny days in the summer I miss that Harley, the wind in my hair, and Janice singing "take another piece of my heart baby"! Just click on the image of Janice standing in a cornfield and close your eyes. Imagine the wind and your hair along with the rumble of the Harley! Scroll a little farther and click on the YouTube video and just pretend Janice is singing to you.
