Retiring to my ranch in Central Texas, in 2005, I had set a goal to write a book about my four Great Grandfathers. Being a fifth generation Texan, there are a wealth of stories about my predecessors. My start was nowhere near a book, but the editing of a book of short stories by my Mother’s favorite Uncle, Lee Wallace, a prominent citizen and Judge in Kerrville. He had given the original manuscript to her the last time we saw him in 1950. He had copyrighted the book in 1946. As I edited the book I began to write a new foreword for it and both enjoyed writing and actually liked what I was writing. A thought occurred to me, maybe someone else would like my writing also.
That someone could be my ten Grandchildren and maybe that someone could be the general public. As is said, I have had some “wild and crazy” times in our great outdoors, so in mid 2006 I began my Outdoor Odyssey series, all based on my actual experiences. My first book, Outdoor Odyssey, was copyrighted in 2006, and my second, Outdoor Odyssey – Water Under The Bridge, was copyrighted in 2007. In 2008 I had 2 "real' books copyrighted - "The End Of The Line" and "Why It Is Called Hunting". Currently I have two other books in process, one about my family and the other about storms that I have survived. The local newspaper, “The Goldthwaite Eagle” has published many of my articles and in late 2006, my youngest son, Randy, suggested that I start a Blog.
Randy said he would set it up and show me how to use it and now, “Outdoor Odyssey, bits and pieces from Jon Bryan”, is an up and running Blog site. Never having had any formal creative writing training, but having an almost photographic memory, the words come easy for me. I’m just putting to words the events that are locked in my mind.
Since I began blogging I have become a writer for Water and Woods, an online, outdoor magazine; Buckmasters has published my stories both in their magazine and web site and I am getting my first book, "The End Of The Line", published and it will be available before Christmas, 2009.
I graduated from The University Of Houston in 1959 with a BBA and after several false starts, went to work for the IBM Corporation, spending twenty years with that fine company. I remained in the computer business for the remaining twenty years of my business career.
The two goals for my life, set by me in 1950, were to own a ranch and to play professional baseball. Making the first one and missing the second, I had speed, power, good eyes, but an average arm. I still play senior softball, my team winning National Championships in 2002, 2003 and 2008. For my age, I still have speed, power, good eyes and an average arm. My Kids and Grandkids wouldn’t let me retire from softball in 2005, saying that it kept me young. I agree with them!
Growing up in the times of “family” made a significant impression on me, and I value the time spent with my four Children and their Spouses, ten Grandchildren and my very supportive wife, Layla, who is a widely respected senior softball executive and player. Telling her I was writing an “About Me” piece for the Blog, and asking her how would she describe herself and which adjective would she choose – charming, lovely, sweet, talented, understanding, tough, aggressive? Her immediate response was, “Why of course, all of them.” I agree with her!
The former owner of the local paper wants me to write about senior softball, my Kids want to see the family heritage book, I would like to write about current events in our beautiful Texas Hill Country and also keep up the Blog and make the stories in it better and better!
I never guessed that when I retired I would need a calendar and have to practice time management!
Jon can be reached at jbryan :::at::: centex.net.
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