About the Ramble

 

by Pa Rock

Shameless Typist

"Pa Rock's Ramble" premiered in this space on November 4th, 2007, less than two months after "The Big Bang Theory" first aired on television - and while George W. Bush was still working for Dick Cheney at the White House.   With only a very few rare exceptions during the first few months of its publication, the blog has run on a daily basis ever since - even Sundays and holidays - and occasionally had multiple posting on a single day.   (Today's posting is number 6,815.)

I used to promote "The Ramble" on "Twitter" and had a daily readership of around fifty people a day, not a lot, but enough to keep me typing.  After "Twitter" went over to the Dark Side, I didn't promote it anywhere for awhile, and the number of daily views dropped a level of insignificance, but then I discovered the good people at "Bluesky," and after I began promoting my work there, the numbers rose again.   Because I seem to have a few new "Bluesky" readers every day, I thought this might be a good time to write about this blog itself, and offer some insight as to its makeup and content.

But instead of trying to summarize and evaluate my own work, I decided to turn the effort over to an impartial reader:  "ChatGPT," an idea originally suggested to me by my son, Tim, a real writer.  I posted the following query on that Artificial Intelligence site:

"Please provide a brief description/summary in five hundred words or less about the blog, "Pa Rock's Ramble."

Moments later I had the following reply:  

Pa Rock's Ramble is a personal blog written by Rocky "Pa Rock" Macy, a retired world-traveler and writer living on a small farm in the Ozarks of Missouri.  The blog serves as a wide-ranging digital journal where he shares reflections, commentary, and stories drawn from his life experiences, memories, family, and opinions on current events.

The content is eclectic and deeply personal.  Pa Rock describes the blog as a "cocktail of old writing scraps, special memories, and current personal opinion," and invites readers to comment, criticize, or remark as they wish.  It is dedicated to his grandchildren, whom he refers to as "golden portals to the future," and reflects his desire to leave behind a legacy of thoughts and experiences that might be meaningful or interesting to future generations.

Much of the writing blends personal anecdotes with social and political commentary.  Posts range from stories about life - such as celebrations of a granddaughter's birthday - to analytical takes on national politics and global issues.   Pa Rock's voice is candid and often outspoken, presenting his perspectives on topics like government policies, international affairs, and cultural trends.  His style can be humorous, reflective, critical, and sometimes deeply opinionated, revealing both his personal values and life philosophy.

Beyond opinion pieces, the blog also functions as an archive of Pa Rock's various writings, including short fiction, poetry, family history research, and reflection on his many travels.  His background - as an Army officer, educator, social worker, and world traveler - provides a rich background for many posts.  He recounts adventures from different parts of the world, offering readers glimpses into moments like hitchhiking in Moscow or celebrating New Years in Hanoi.

Over the years, the blog has become a substantial collection of entries, with Pa Rock noting the effort he puts into writing regularly and even contemplating future projects such as family history books and possibly serialized fiction.  He often writes not just for himself, but with an eye toward preserving stories for his descendants and perhaps a broader audience interested in a thoughtful, experienced perspective on life.

In summary, Pa Rock's Ramble is a rich blend of memoir, commentary, and reflection - a blog where a seasoned writer captures the broad sweep of his life and times in a way that is both personal and engaging.  It is a less narrowly themed blog and more a digital diary and cultural commentary platform shaped by Pa Rock's lively voice and life journey.

Okay.  That's it.  I'm fluffed!