My name is Grant, aka “OldDogZeroTricks.” Thanks for stopping by. It’s hard to know what to write as a bio. I’m not a celebrated expert in anything, including motorcycles, which I discuss below. I’m not particularly remarkable and certainly not young anymore. A blogging God suggests I have some personal info for others to see, but I don’t have anything that sells me. Where does one start? I’ll start by breaking the rules.
I’m 56
That’s right. Now leave. See you!
Although passionate about helping others navigate life peacefully, I’ve never been comfortable listening to the tone of my voice. Let’s be honest; no one wants to hear a middle-aged chump talking about the past.
I live paycheck to paycheck
They say, “The truth shall set you free.” I know I’m not alone, but at my age, I can’t go out and buy my dream motorcycle just yet! It’s a current financial reality I’m OK with but a little ashamed of, especially since I have had a few motorcycles in the past.
An old dream realized
I grew up in the UK and worked with computers for quite a while. The company where I worked sent many of us on a course—The Phoenix Seminar—The Psychology of Achievement by Brian Tracy. The course was so impressive that I would sit in the park overlooking our head office, listening to the included affirmation tapes.
The following year, there was a series of law of attraction events. I left the company and moved to the US to learn to fly helicopters – a childhood pipe dream thanks to Stringfellow Hawke and Airwolf. I still shiver when I hear the theme tune.
I’ve been a drifter
After getting my Private and then Commercial Helicopter License in 1998, I had very little cash and looked for a cheaper place to rent..
“Free Rent on Water, Assistance Required”
This was a short ad for a place to rent. Danny Murphy, a man in a wheelchair, had a lovely apartment but needed help in the mornings and evenings.
“It’s all about balance”
It’s great to be around positive people! Danny heard my story, welcomed me as his roommate/caregiver, and got me a job as an elevator engineer at his company. That company installed accessibility equipment for the Disabled community.
From the East coast to the West
A couple of years later, Dan decided to follow a calling and try acting in Hollywood. I moved out, continuing life as usual – reaching for the skies daily via elevator while my old boss and roommate headed west.
The Ups and Downs
Like all great journeys in life, nothing lasts forever. Our boss sold the Florida branch where I worked to a more prominent company. Dan knew of the situation and asked me if I wanted to move to LA and help him there – and I could incorporate my hobbies.
“Computers calm me down”
A guy in The Fast and the Furious (I drove home pretty quickly after seeing that movie) said something similar, and computers calm many of us down. The systematic processes keep us distracted and focused – as all hobbies should.
Life in LA
I moved to LA and started helping Dan on my computer with his headshots and other promotional material for his growing career. He had already booked or been in movies like There’s Something About Mary and Me, Myself, and Irene, so there was good, honest work to do.
A Woman in the midst
As it happens, disabled people can go through quite a few caregivers in their time. I’m not sure if it was a setup, but an ex-caregiver happened to be in LA, and she stopped by Dan’s for a visit. This lovely Japanese lady came with her adorable 3-year-old daughter.
Call her right now
After sharing my tales of life as a helicopter-flying roommate, this single mother casually mentioned that she hadn’t spoken to her mother/daughter’s grandmother in quite a few years. Her mother didn’t know she’d been a grandmother for 3 years. Out came my phone!
Out Came the Tears
Right there and then, and without me taking no for an answer, she phoned her mom in Japan. They talked. She cried. The single mom, the adorable daughter, the man in a wheelchair, and the high flyer lived together for a few weeks.
Six months in the UK
My father, a great guy still today, had a stroke, so I decided to leave the US and show some support in the UK. It wasn’t financial support.
Ambulance chaser
I needed work. I missed the US. I missed flying. I missed purpose. I interviewed for London Ambulance, moved in, and started training. I needed some action, at least.
Quitter!
The people were friendly, and the training was fun. But this was not Brian Tracy; this was not flying. What was I doing?
From the West to the Far East
It was 2004. I was still pretty young and got invited to Japan. I could chill there for a few weeks! Dragging my suitcase along Forever Street to this apartment, an empty fridge greeted me when I arrived.
Finally, a purpose!
By now, I was a boyfriend. My role—should I choose to accept it—was to pick up the adorable one from school, try not to talk too much to the other moms, and see what happened.
Adobe GoLive
I had plenty of time at home waiting for school pickup time. They shipped the PC that I shamefully sold them when I left LA to Japan. I felt creative but didn’t know why. For some reason, I started learning Adobe GoLive and how to make websites. It was so uncool, yet I wanted to study willingly for the first time, other than flying! It turns out the study material was free via eMule!
Accidentally on purpose
Like any excellent mother should, and like any father, if he’s around, taking care of the kids and paying the bills is essential. My now-Japanese girlfriend’s mother happened to want to learn English with a few of her friends. Any living room would do, so why not ours? We bought a blanket to cover the quality of the student sofa.
I’m a People person
The Japanese are lovely people. People-pleasers can easily relax when talking and listening to others about their journeys and dreams. Teaching English came naturally to me.
Back to school
I joined a few small English schools and started teaching private and group lessons. That was many years ago, and I still work for three out of four schools. One of my bosses occasionally mentioned farming, something his family did even though he ran an English school. I didn’t give it much thought. We would sometimes chit-chat between students.
Time waits for no woman
All young people have to grow. When her 18th birthday came around, the little 3-year-old returned to America to claim her birthright. Her mother cried. I might have. It’s all good. We soldiered on, paid the bills, did the laundry, and enjoyed a spectacularly average grind—at least, I thought so.
Hobbies at Home
Balancing the grind was easy. My Japanese girlfriend became a professional Origami teacher (whose work appears in two books). Origami was her hobby at home. I got into smartphone ROM customization for a few years and kept busy contributing to XDA Developers. I also hosted a website that compiled and listed available custom ROMs. It seems like a while ago now. More recently, to unwind, I used to play the game Apex Legends, which is where I started using the name OldDogZeroTricks. The devs noticed me. I could have been a better player, but I was older than many.
From Riches to Rags
My boss’s father passed away. The family decided to close the school to focus on farming—growing vegetables—their main business for generations. I was invited to the funeral and asked to be a farmer. Little did I know I would love the latter!
Breath of Fresh Air
A strange peace comes from physically working outside later in life. You get to break the rules. You get to be dirty. You get to eat lunch sitting on the floor. You stop caring what other people think. You might still be in a rat race, but it feels less so, and you certainly don’t have to dress the part.
As for downtime, it’s more rewarding. You appreciate the physical rest with an empty and clear mind, content with the stress you worked off and the hard work you accomplished. For a guy my age, I guess it’s like clinging to the essence of youth and appreciating strength while you still have it. Farming is hard work but doesn’t feel like work. Had I been pretending to fit into society all these years?
Working two jobs
As with all true dynamic entrepreneurs, I continue working in multiple fields. From conversing in English in the classroom to sprinkling manure on the soil, I carefully balance the two crafts. (Driving tractors is cool – and any helicopter pilot would be proud!)
I misread my role
Guys, you know this. You love her. She’s not perfect, and neither are you. The years together have formed a more profound love that young people, regardless of passion, have yet to understand. Only time and many years can do that.
Greener Pastures
A man’s role is to support. It’s just inherent. It’s how we fit in. We had discussed their goal of returning to the States for years. Once an American child reaches the age of 21, their parents can apply for a green card.
A Canceled Reservation
The grandmother had passed a couple of months earlier, and things seemed empty at home. Out of character and comfort zone, and in a fresh quest to be a better half, I booked a lunch reservation at a small restaurant near my place of work. I can’t remember why, but we canceled, and we both met and walked home. The walk was a good half an hour.
Bitter Sweet
We got home, and I started to change. Suddenly, “Ta Da! My green card arrived. I was going to surprise you at the restaurant!”
WTH?
Surprise me? At the restaurant? Hello? Is anybody in there?
A Long Goodbye
She stayed around for five months and had to leave by the sixth. Ladies, we guys love, and we never stop supporting. What else can we do? But something had changed. This wasn’t `See you in a few months’. I could see it. I could hear it. My existence was somehow annoying.
High Five
Her daughter and the good old days awaited. I couldn’t compete. I never tried. We are all free. I’ve never claimed anything from a soul. I was being pushed aside. It’s allowed. I’m a man; I can take it. A few days leading up to her leaving were tearful – on my part. Who was I? I’d never seen this guy before.
The sudden tears in front of my boss surprised us both. He’d only asked about the coming week’s work. Did I disagree with his scheduling? We stood in the open field. I told him I was fine and the schedule was peachy. I was broken. Less than a week to go..
Some Good to the Grind
`She is happy.’ `That was the goal.’ `That was my job—a purpose’. A few people had been brought together; there had been some good to the grind. But I never raked in the cash. I didn’t change the world.
Fist Bump and back to work
Saying goodbye, I was a wreck. I was farming, covered in mud, and it was raining. We lived a few minutes from the station and my work. I didn’t have a car. Because of the unplanned rain, I asked my boss to drive her and her suitcases. Like a loser, covered in mud, I followed on my bicycle! It’s OK; I was only 55.
This was seriously bittersweet. We’d said enough at home. We’d taken our work seriously. It was always a given. I looked at her. She was dry. I was dripping wet. She smiled; America was waiting. We fist bumped. I cycled back to the greenhouse.
To love and to lose
This situation could have been worse—more dramatic, more final. I get it. It can be a shock when one feels or loses love for the first time. Surprise in that person. Surprise in ourselves. I was 55. She was 64. Sometimes, we find love in the most unexpected scenarios. Time does this. We don’t plan it, and we can’t calculate it.
Funnily enough, I did some of the tidiest and most professional farming work I’d ever seen back at the greenhouse. So keen was I to protect my mind.
Driving forward
We are lucky to have work. We are fortunate to enjoy hobbies and lucky to have positive people in our lives. We can’t ask for much more. Back in the entrepreneurial spirit, I continue to drive the tractors. I find it’s OK to scan the instruments far too often, imagining the high-flying old days. The English teaching is a good balance and brings me back down to earth. Life is OK. I don’t sweat these things nowadays. If she comes back – I’ll be here for now. Time waits for no man. We all need a purpose.
Back to Motorcycles
This page is going to screw up my SEO for MOTORCYCLES. The good news is my desire for a Niken GT goes back a few years. It’s not a rebound thing. Thanks in part to a few farming business trips (I’m the chump on the right), I’d love to get out and explore Japan more. I think a motorcycle would be excellent for that.
Motorcycles I used to have
Before most of the above, I had these three motorcycles at different times.
- Suzuki GS125 ES (Electric Start and allow wheels!)
- Kawasaki GPZ 550 (Not a bad upgrade)
- Kawasaki GPX 750 (Pretty good until I needed a car)
Now I’m older, I feel I can appreciate bikes more. I need to save up!
Challenges abroad
Living in Japan is comfortable. I need to improve my Japanese. Speaking better Japanese can make talking to motorcycle salespeople and doing paperwork easier. It’s easy to lack confidence when you can’t or haven’t mastered a language. But that shouldn’t be an excuse for inaction.
Language
Regarding speaking Japanese, according to my Duolingo day streak – the above famous fist bump was around 246 days ago. It took me about seven months to thoroughly chill and appreciate the changing chapter. Can you relate?
Love is sacrifice
I’ve always been honest to a fault. I should have apologized in advance. I’m getting on a bit. I enjoy jogging to try to keep the cobwebs at bay. I mentioned on this site that I like working with real people, so the contributor invite is still valid. Of course, I want to keep the site content motorcycle-related. This page can be the exception.
Motorcycles for Mental Health
We all have different journeys. These journeys bring about good and bad times, and we are sometimes challenged along the way. So, before I forget, we have an article here on the blog to remind you of the reported positive effects of riding motorcycles: Motorcycles and Mental Health: Riding for Wellness
Cheers
This page has been a bio of sorts. My old roommate Danny passed away about ten years ago. I respected him. One of my best mates in the UK and roommates for a while was blind. My mother raised registered Pat dogs for many years and took them into hospitals to visit the kids.
One more
As well as getting back into motorcycling, I want a Niken GT to make content with and about. I’ve had a fair few questions about the Niken and motorcycles in general that I’d like to see answered.
This has been an honest report. Given the unimpressive nature of all of the above, maybe you can see why I chose the name “OldDogZeroTricks.” I meet people halfway. Thanks for reading.
Grant – OldDogZeroTricks
