In 1990, my dearest friend gently pushed, prodded, encouraged, nudged, and shoved me toward pursuing the childhood goal of becoming a writer. Well, that pursuit, an absolutely incredible and grand adventure, continues to this very day.
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| Just one of the surprises awaiting discovery in McLean, Texas |
Yesterday morning the latest installment of my new radio program, Jim Hinckley’s America, on Alamo 1230 (available on podcast Saturday morning) provided me with another opportunity to showcase the wonders only found on Route 66 and the road less traveled. This time I turned the spotlight on McLean, Texas, home of the absolutely incredible barbed wire museum. As a bonus, Delbert Trew, who turned 80 a few days ago, was able to share a bit about McLean and its colorful history.
Almost a year ago I was honored by a request from David and Kathy Alexander to supply original features about the infancy of the American auto industry for their amazing website, Legends of America. Now, that partnership has expanded to include photographs that are available for purchase as prints in various sizes.
On Monday afternoon, Scott Sheehan, and his girlfriend, from Bay City, Michigan will be stopping by to have a book autographed. This is one of the hardest aspect of my pursuit to grasp.
In my minds eye I am plain and simple Jim Hinckley, a relatively quiet little fellow who lives in a desert backwater. Yet people from throughout the world look me up for a signature on a book, for an interview, for assistance, or for a tour. At the very least this seems rather surreal. On Tuesday evening we will be meeting with friends from Holland as they motor west on Route 66. Of all the perks associated with the pursuit of my goal, none are as rewarding as the international friendships we have made as a result. (photo – author Jim Hinckley and Dries Bessels of the Dutch Route 66 Association at Redneck’s in Kingman, Arizona)
Yesterday I received a request from Josh Noble, the area tourism director, to meet with Taku Takemura, a Japanese reporter working on a feature about Route 66 for a magazine. So, I see what we will be doing next Sunday morning.
This exemplifies what I noted about a surreal feel to all of this. In the past few months, dusty and trail worn old Jim Hinckley has given interviews for the Kingman Daily Miner, for an Arizona cable television program, for an an Australian television program, for a university class from Oklahoma, and for a German and Canadian magazine. On the horizon, an interview on KOTK in Oklahoma City. (photo – author Jim Hinckley with Mark Fletcher of Classic Restos, a Brisbaine, Australia based television program)On the horizon, fulfilling a request from Gary of Route 66 Radio for a few dozen five and ten minute spots profiling the ghost towns and special places on America’s most famous highway. Then, if boredom attempts to rear its ugly head, there is always the international Route 66 festival, an event the city of Kingman and are business interests are requesting that I attend as their representative.
In my spare time, there is the need to finish the current project, a Route 66 historic atlas, before the January 1, 2014 deadline.
The pursuit of the goal continues, as does the grand adventure we call life.
