We had just finished lunch in a small, middle of nowhere restaurant populated mostly by a group of behemoths who were working the local rail line. They had spent the morning replacing rail and creosote soaked lumber, a job not left to those who weren't used to more than just a little physical labor. When we locked our bikes and first walked into the restaurant all eyes were following us as if we were some kind of invasive species. As we sat down in a booth, we weren't sure we were going to be served, noticed, yes. But served, well it wasn't looking good. As we sat there for what seemed like two lifetimes all eyes were still on us. Then without warning Scotty stood and loudly stated: "Look we just got finished climbing that damn mountain on fully loaded bikes. Now I know you wonder what the hell we're doing here, and I'll tell you. We're sitting our tired asses down in hope of getting some damn lunch." I thought we'd be dead long before we could make it to the door. Instead, a six foot something 250 plus pound man sitting on a stool a bit more than 20 feet from us starting laughing. As his laughter grew it became contagious, and in very short order they were all laughing. The problem was we couldn't tell if it was with us or at us.

I had spent most of the morning wondering when the rain was going to come that had been promised in the local weather forecast. I wasn't sure if my gear would hold up to any hard or relentless storms. In planning for this trip, I knew that my next to nothing checking account wouldn't allow me to buy bags as water-tight as my brother's. So, I had been worrying about it for the last 40 miles or so. But, now I was much less worried about my gear than I was worried wondering if we'd ever make it outside to even see our bikes again. The architect of the laughter still filling the room stood slowly and started walking toward us. The room got more and more quite the closer he came. Ross, we later learned this was his name, got three feet in front of Scotty, who hadn't moved, and said, "Well what in God's name are you doing climbing that mountain on bicycles?" At this point I stood, foolishly thinking my presence next to Scotty might make us seem a more formidable pair and responded, "We're headed to St. Mary's to try some of the beer made at Straub's Brewery." Ross, smiled and said, "Well, then that makes a bit more sense. A man's got to get his beer anyway he can."

OK, so this is the introduction to a short story my brother has started writing about a "rite of passage" kind of bicycle trip we took as very young men. He's about six pages into it and says he's going to stop. He says it's just nostalgia raising its ugly head as he gets older. My brother has had some rough times lately, some illness that will be with him the rest of his days, the loss of a job, and a few other things. Personally, I think continuing with his writing would be a good thing. Am I nuts for thinking this?

Just coming up to retirement and I will have all that "spare" time on my hands. In the past I have written for a few Sport magazines within the sport I was involved with and am wondering if I should write something to pass onto my 2 girls so that they can see the real father that was about before they came along.

So anything that will occupy that spare time and keep the grey cells working and be worthwhile. And you never know- He may make sense in his writing that you often wondered about.

Tell him to keep at it.

It's a good story, and well told.

Having said that, there are all sorts of improvements that could be made.

My favorite advice is attributed to Peggy Noonan:

"You see a sign on a busy pier on the ocean. It says 'Fresh Fish Sold Here'.

But of course it's fresh. You're on the ocean.

Of course it's sold. No one is going to give it away.

Of course it's here. Otherwise there wouldn't be a sign in the first place.

So the sign need only say 'Fish'."

I think you miss my point. My question is do I encourage him to continue? I'm not interested in literary critique. Rather is his giving up the completion of the story a good thing? I know there is no definitive answer to such a question, but thought that perhaps there are others who have helped a family member stay engaged in life rather than giving up. Physically, he'll never be able to ride again. So, I know that's not an option. Yet, I lean toward thinking writing about something he loved as better than sitting around doing nothing.

I am faced with the same issue. My favorite sister is a truly gifted writer. She can take a trip involving six old women going bowling and leave readers rolling on the floor. She began putting some of her work together for possible publication a couple of years ago and inexplicably stopped before sending it out. I suspect her health issues are the primary reason; after losing her ability to engage in athletic endeavors she is a bit unsure of who she is. (She was once one of the best female soccer players in the U.S. Unfortunately, that was before there were any opportunities for female soccer players.) I'm not sure if I should encourage her to push on or just butt out and enjoy the time I get with her.

Yes, encourage him to continue. For some, writing is a way of sorting things out, and a release for creativity.

I'm finishing up editing a story my grandfather wrote about a trip he took in 1920. It wasn't by bicycle, but the people he met and the places he went, cannot be recreated, but they still live in his story. He opens up a world that has since vanished.

Your brother should write it.

I would think then that he should go for it.

Yes, encourage your brother to write it! I want to read the rest of the story!!!

Tell him to go for it. Practically every month Bicycling magazine has a transformative story involving bicycles. Maybe if your brother's story is good enough, it can get published. At any length, having a goal like that is good mental therapy.

I guess it depends. Why did he stop writing it? From the little you've said, it seems as though he may have stopped in order to avoid looking directly at what he has lost, to avoid grieving for the loss of potential, the realization that there are dreams he cannot achieve in this life. If this is the case, perhaps encouraging him to continue will appear heartless and unsympathetic from his point of view.

On the other hand, it's been my experience that meeting pain directly and examining it objectively, and without attempting to shield one's being from it, is a transformative experience. In the act of embracing pain and fear soberly and lucidly, in going through it and under it to its roots, in seeing it simply as what it is, comes a moment when pain and fear lose their power, when you forgive yourself and let them go. And in that moment you become free to truly live, just as you are. Writing is one of the best ways to make such a journey.

So I think you have to consider your brother's temperament and see if you can uncover his reasons for writing, and for stopping -- he might be only partially aware of them himself. If you understand those, you may have your answer.

Thanks, I think this is part of the dilemma for me. I'm not sure why he stopped, and he hasn't been too verbal about it.

No, not nuts. Yes, get him to write it.

I have absolutely no idea what the fish comment is about.

I realise the reasoning behind the question, in terms of the psychology of it all, but there are other reasons for my suggesting encouragement to continue writing.

Tellling a yarn is a talent. He seems to have it. He needs to nurture it and he needs your encouragement to do that.

Your brother is able to set the scene, but more importantly, he is able to develop characters, even in such a short passage.

This is coming from an ex-journalist who wrote iin the sterile daily news form, but who always envied the ability of those who could paint pictures with their words.

Perhaps you could talk with him about why he doesn't want to write the rest. Often people are afraid others will find their concerns silly, or they assume no one else has similar feelings, so they are reluctant to talk about it. Since it's a story about an adventure you shared, maybe you could even work on the story with him.

I'd tell him how much I enjoyed the piece. I wouldn't necessarily urge him to write more unless he wants to. Maybe writing would be an additional burden that he doesn't need right now. It can be extremely difficult. At least when a chore is undertaken in the physical world, it's done and you can walk away. When a chore is undertaken in the mental world, it's harder to call it done and virtually impossible to walk away. If he's struggling writing might help and it might not. I do think he has a nice way of telling a story.