An Imperfect Road Map

But the Only One I Have

There’s this old story about kids and social media that’s been going around for a couple years. The story has to do with a parenting columnist who wrote about her daughter for years, well into the daughter’s teenage years.

Without telling her daughter.

So, dear readers, what do you think the teenage daughter’s reaction was when she - on her own - discovered her mother’s writing? If you said horror and anger, you are correct. Further, the writer doubled down, refusing to remove or amend her writing, making the case that this is what she does for a living and her daughter should just learn to deal with it. In fact, it was the writer herself that wrote the column about this.

As you may have guessed, I neither wish to be that writer, nor do I want Little Bean to think I’m a monster when she’s a teenager. (I mean, I’m sure she’ll find other things to think I’m a monster about when she’s a teenager.)

My point: Little Bean is old enough now to have a say in my representations of her and of her life. In a way, she already does. For the first volume of our Rock Field Guide, her contributions were primarily in the area of rock selection and naming. Now, in the Second Volume coming next month, she was far more involved - from routes to descriptions and even me transcribing some of her thoughts. I’m certain in Volume Three she’ll actually do some of the writing.

She knows I write about her, she knows what Facebook and social media is. She knows she has fans on our NH Rocks That Rock community. I don’t want to surprise her with anything, or worse, not respect her own still developing sense of privacy.

So, going forward she’ll take a larger role. She’s not shy. She knows what she likes and what she doesn’t. If she says something is off limits, well, it’s off limits.

So we’ll see how that all pans out going forward.

In the meantime, we have a new series of adventures waiting for us next month that we’d both like to tell you about.

Over the last few months, she and I have been listening to and exploring the power trio rock band out of Monterrey, Mexico called The Warning. Classically trained from when they were little kids, the three sisters have been playing and recording since they were teenagers. And they are soooo good! Here’s a link to one of Little Bean’s favorite songs: Animosity.

It’s been one thing to bring my daughter into rock through old school AC/DC or The Beatles or CCR, but to find a group of women whose focus is on the music, that we can both enjoy, has been a lovely bonding experience. And make no mistake, you’re going to be hearing about them as well. They’ve been in Europe opening for Muse.

My partner in rock, let’s go!

We’re super excited to announce that The Warning will be Little Bean’s first official live rock and roll show when the band comes to Boston next month. And we upgraded our tickets and will be meeting the band as well. We’ll be writing quite a bit more about that as we go.

But wait, it gets better. A couple weeks after The Warning show, my daughter and I will set off on a multi-day road trip to New York where we’ll catch a performance by Pentatonix, another long time favorite of hers. We’ll see the band, do a little hiking and maybe even end up in Herkimer digging for diamonds. We’ll write about that as well.

My own mom loved music. We had a transistor radio atop the fridge and I remember her singing the Na Nas in “Hey Jude.” Later, she bought me albums from Kansas, the Bay City Rollers, Donny Osmond and yes, AC/DC. Quite a variety, huh?

But I never went to a rock and roll show with her. I plan on making sure I do with Little Bean. This summer will be the summer of music. We’re going to rock out. And we’d like for you to come along.

Are we ready? Yes I think we are!

Finally, a word to all of you reading this. We had a big subscriber drive the last couple days so perhaps some of you are new to Day By Day, or even new to my writing.

First, here’s my bookstore: Check out my books here.

Second, a word about what happens here.

Anything. Anything happens here. I’ve moved much of my long form, casual writing away from Facebook or other social media to avoid the ads and algorithms and that seems to have worked out fine. We have a growing, engaged community here and I thank you for that.

There’s no cost to be here, to be a subscriber. If, however, you feel compelled to donate, the best way to do so is to keep me swimming in coffee, as so many of you kindly already have! Buy Dan A Coffee Here

I’ve lost some subscribers because this space doesn’t focus on any one thing. I’m a writer and a librarian, a journalist at heart. I love travel. Mostly, I’m a husband and dad. I want to use this space to maybe make you laugh, or provide some insight. Maybe describe some neat new food. I tend to lean into sentimentality. Maybe one week I’ll write about something that doesn’t make you excited. But maybe the next week I will. Who knows what’s around the next corner.

Maybe, even, you WANT me to write about something. Tell me! You never know. I’m really interested in what people are passionate about, so odds are, I’ll be curious about what you love as well.

Well, this is a pretty free-form roundabout way of saying that new and exciting things are happening this summer. We’re going to concerts! My library is expanding! Our new book is being released! I expect to write about all of that, and any miracles or magic that we find along the way.

Thanks for coming along for the ride. Share the wealth. Be kind and on we go!