WHEN I WALK IN THE NIGHT OR DRIVE IN THE DAY.

What do we all gotta give?
What do we all have to give?
What do we have to share?

My brother Jeremy - junior to me in age only, and that by 16 years - gives the world his music and me his time.

Not just me. But he has given me plenty of it.

When you think about the small amount of time you actually have to be alive, and think past that realization to the reality that whatever amount of time you think you have is almost one hundred percent certain to be less than what you think it is...then it starts to put the idea of time into a whole different context.

A hundred thousand essays and memorial sermons have been written about the precious nature of time and to use every second and minute and all that. And they're all great. But they all start to run together, like a thousand meals you've eaten and you know a lot of them were special and delicious, but you can't necessarily differentiate many of them from one another.

They're all true. Time is like energy: it can be transferred and shared, but it can't be destroyed or created. At least not until time travel is a reality.

Jeremy spent a day of his Saturday with me. He could have made music, or watched television, or played with his adorable dog, or any number of things, but he hopped in my motorcar in the snow and ice and drove down with me to McMinnville, Oregon, where he sat through a couple hours of short films in a dark theater.

We were there for the screening of a film I did with one of our other brothers, Jonny, who was unable to be there, having chosen to be Canadian for a couple years and thus out of country, although still in North America, so therefore incontinent.

The destination is less important for this post. This is the drive. Coffee, meandering conversation, Kings of Leon...

That's one of things I love about him: the ability to share vibrant conversation...and then to shift to listening to music and just being. Simply absorbing the music and letting that be the experience.

And back to dialogue.

That's the day, that's the way that time went. And I would not trade it.

Also, we stopped beside the road and filmed him performing one of his songs. Jamey. The cold was biting, he nearly lost three fingers. Perhaps you will someday see it, should he choose.

I WILL BE 50 IN NINE YEARS, BUT MY WIFE IS ALMOST 21.

He sized us up carefully, inspecting the details for accuracy, then pointed to his mother.

"You,"
he said wisely,
"look like you're in your 20s."

His infinite judgment came to rest on me.

"And you,"
he pronounced with gravitas.
"Definitely look like you're in your 50s."

I'll let him argue with my birth certificate.* Maybe he'll run for President someday.

_____

*which says 40 even, but those can be wildly misleading, of course
Edit

LET THERE BE BLOODS.

BLOODS.* double-helix sharing ferocities; sometimes fighting with, often fighting for, back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back through everything. by my side, in my heart, sevenstrong. Forever. ____ *a phrase borrowed from other beloved brother Bobby James; where he pillaged it from I do not know. But I love it. ____ #siblings #flyviewaerial #pnw #selfportrait

A post shared by Joseph Long (@josephivanlong) on Dec 31, 2016 at 4:34pm PST

BLOODS.*

double-helix sharing ferocities;
sometimes fighting with, often fighting for,
back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back through everything.
by my side,
in my heart,
sevenstrong.

Forever.

____

*a phrase borrowed from other beloved brother Bobby James; where he pillaged it from I do not know. But I love it.

BIRTHDAY : Jonny and a beard.

Hey Jonny.

It really hurt me last week, when someone commented on how your beard was bigger than mine. I guess that's what happens when you get older: a lot more pain and learning how to deal with hurtful comments. And truth is, it's true. Your beard is bigger.

I want to run from it, but the fact remains that it is. I gotta be able to look in the mirror and say "hey, we're getting older, and now another brother has a better beard than you." It's just so hard to hear those words from other people, and to hear the whisperings even when they think you're too old to be able to hear them. Well, I can hear, quite well actually, as I've been watching Daredevil and doing a lot of ear exercising exercises.

One advantage of being Daredevil is that he doesn't have to look in the mirror and realise his younger brother has a cooler beard than him. He doesn't have to look in the mirror at all. He also doesn't have a brother, which is sad, because I do, and I am glad. And in spite of the great resentment I have stored up over your healthy facial hair, I have to say that you are one of my favourites. I have also not shaved since that uncalled for remark from the anonymous person (your identity is safe, Zechariah Runkle).

In spite of the overwhelming angst I feel today, I can still say with mostly truthfulness-ish : "happy" birthday, and the one thing that I've wanted to tell you for years is tha












___

WHO AM I?

Daddy,
one informed me.
Sometimes when you're not looking, I take sips of your coffee.

Yeah!
the other one chimed in untruthfully.

It's really really good,
she continued.
It's addicting. I think I'm addicted.

Sometimes I feel like the dad equivalent of Derek Zoolander.

____

GUEST POST: RYAN & AMY'S WEDDING

The Dream Team, Photographer Edition.
Congratulations to bride and groom, Amy and Ryan White!
‪#‎TetherowGolfClub‬ ‪#‎BendOregon‬
@jonnylong15 @josselynpeterson @josephivanlong

- Meilani Long

photo: Meilani Long ©2015

MOM'S DAY.

Magic,
Countess,
you are magic.
Or at least unexplainable science.
A jolly Mum's day to you.
Thanks for being a treat.
You are kind of neat.

Add caption

GUEST POST: JONNY & JOSEPH IN UTAH.

Quick little 48 hour trip to St. George/Hurricane, Utah to grab aerials and ground footage in and around Colorado City, home of the infamous Roland and Warren Jeffs, among others. If you've ever read Jon Krakaur's "Under the Banner of Heaven", you'll know some of the controversies that have ensued here. Tune in tomorrow night to ‪#‎ABC20‬/20 to check out the story and see some of our work.

- Jonny Long

©2015 Jonny Long

My brother and I fly Delta, and wait at the airport, and talk about our relationship.

https://youtu.be/VfAJul8ULlM

JONNY IN HAWAII.

Walk soft and carry a big lens.
- my brother.

please keep him in your thoughts and prayers that he will stay warm enough. Hawaii in the dead of winter can get downright chilly. I worry that he's not even wearing mittens.

COMING UP FAST.

It's amazing how the 4th of July just sneaks up on you.

____

Musician surrounded by family. ____ #neveralone #edwardhoppermoment #44music #45uncles

A photo posted by Joseph Long (@josephivanlong) on Jan 1, 2015 at 5:19pm PST

IN WHICH WE ARE JOINED BY A MUSICIAN.

December 26. In which we confront the reality of post-Christmas angst by refusing to acknowledge it's over and continuing a second day of celebration. Also, a guest appearance by @jem_long . ____ #longx4 #longholiday2014 #long2014

A photo posted by Joseph Long (@josephivanlong) on Dec 26, 2014 at 10:07pm PST

FIVE EMERGENCY ROOM STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW, PLUS THREE BROTHERS.

NEWTON & O'CONNOR.
Everything that rises must converge,
and fall back to earth because of gravity.
Unless it doesn't,
in which case the intransigent laws of motion are being defied,
which is way cool, like falling snow reversing itself.

First of all, I'm fine. Or at least alive. I am also at the ER, where I have met some great people and gleaned some valuable stuff about good times to get hurt, and not.

1.
Don't get injured on Monday. Or Saturday. Especially not Saturday. Saturday makes sense, with all the weekend activities and recreational daring-do, but Monday seems to be a puzzling one to everyone I've spoken to. Why Mondays?

2.
MVA = motor vehicle accident. I'm always up for learning new acronyms.
Finger lac (hard c) = finger laceration.

3.
The big Thanksgiving injury around here is...finger lacs. Because of...
...those powered turkey carving knives. "We hate 'em." she said. "Don't use 'em."

Okay.

I said.

I'm vegetarian.

Oh!
she said.
Do you do tofurkey?

Then we had a great conversation about salads and a million ways to do 'em. Tip: turn them into rice bowls and don't be afraid to add chocolate sprinkles and whipped cream.

4.
The average wait time in U.S. Hospitals in the ER is 3 1/2 to four hours.

So,
she said.
If you get seen in less than two hours, consider yourself fortunate!

Yep.
I said.
And I will try to not schedule a visit for a Monday or Saturday.

5.
Currently there are:
- three two-person conversations happening
- one and a half people watching an episode of CSI: Miami.
- nine people doing stuff on their phones
- one person damaging their spine doing something on an iPad while standing up.
- one child playing in the kids area.
- one guy pacing around looking at people with a semi-intense look, but maybe he's just anxious for Thanksgiving so he can start cutting up those poor turkeys.

Don't use a power knife,
I whisper quietly.
Don't do it.

And somewhere in here, someone is possibly writing about me - "...and there's a fellow in a red tie and coffee-stained shirt talking to himself..."

O joyful week, world.
____

Self-portrait of three brothers. Man, I love these guys. And the variety of hair represented. They may have massive arms and six-packs, but I have...a beard. Just wait until we get our other two bros in later this week. GQ, we await your call :) ____ #jil38 #long2014 #brothers

A photo posted by Joseph Long (@josephivanlong) on Nov 26, 2014 at 10:40am PST

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER.

another quiet afternoon in the strawberry fields forever

(these are not strawberry fields; I just liked the sound of it)




Their new thing has been playing baseball in parking lots.
An important reminder that there's always a fresh way to approach an old activity.
Or at least return to playing it where kids did 70 years ago. 

INDEPENDENCE FOR ALL-ISH.

INDEPENDENCE, PT. 1. / Flags of Freedom.
Well, today's the day the flags on Main Street are blowing in the wind, and I listen to Neil Young (see above) and know that I am surrounded by those who will stand by me.
(Note how I just sneakily crammed the titles of three five-star songs in there)
And our son stomps around in his faux-British accent and wood sword with duct tape with orange Crocs on backwards. This here's what America's all about. Happy happy, all.

INDEPENDENCE, PT. 2 / 
How many GOOD SONGS can you think of with titles that include the words:
: freedom, independence, fight
(Not that those are the defining words of today; they just get used a lot)
They can be variations (e.g. free, independent, fought)

They do have to be of sound quality.

The pen is mightier than the spear,
but a good stick 
can write huge messages in the sand that 
aliens will able to read from light years away.
The power of thinking big.

JOAN JETT (I HATE ROCK & ROLL).

If you need insight into just how rock & roll my wife is, she moved our son's drum set from downstairs, where it was banished to the fringes of audio consciousness, up to our living room, where it is now accessible, on demand, to our children as they work out song arrangements that make me imagine a jolly giant banging running chainsaws against a trio of metal dumpsters. I don't know what I love more: their focused & frenzied faces as they gently bring our eardrums closer to death, or my wife, and her nonchalant chill about raising the decibel level of our home by 300 degrees. I hate rock & roll. 

Just give me more of that rock & roll music. This is where it begins. 

Crazytrain (Workers of the World, Unite, and Dig a Hole to Canada!).

TWO LADS ON TOP OF WORLD.

MT. VERNON.

Rainy Day Selfies

Desolation of The Prince Bride & Elves.

A CONVERSATION ABOUT LUKE AND LEIA.

Post by Joseph Long.

HOMAGE TO LUC BESSON, JEAN RENO, AND JONNY "LOUIS"* LONG.

I was trying to take a nice professional portrait of my brother.
Because he is a professional,
to showcase and highlight his professionalism,
but my shot was unnecessarily invaded,
over
and over
and over
by the creatures;
the amateurs,
who were not even dressed up.

So now,
I'll have to get a professional portrait of him some other time,
and this will have to do.
I will have to say, that if one could be a professional uncle and get paid what one is worth,
then he would be a billionaire.

And then, I would charge him a thousand dollars a minute to hang out with our children and we would all be rich. 

We might be moving to Finland next month, but not totally sure, so don't start the rumor mill yet.
____

*inside reference to "Suits"

MEILANI #24

Steve, Colette, Meilani, Jonny / photo: joseph ivan long ©2013

I remember the first time I met her. At an ice skating rink. She was about fifteen.

Nine years later, and I am so glad she is my vivacious, mischievous, one-of-a-kind sister-in-law. What a great addition to the family.

Happy b-day, Meilani.

RETURNING FROM BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION (SEE ABOVE) TWO HOURS AFTER BEDTIME. WITH SCIMITAR AND GRANDFATHER.

ART DIREKTOR IN FLIGHT>>>.

along the Portland waterfront by the muddy banks of the Willamette

One of the things I love about my little brother Jeremy is his enthusiasm for little things; an interest in finding tiny opportunities to make a memory.

"Hey, will you take a picture of me jumping over the bench while they're watching me with amazement?"*

So this is his vision. Credit him for art direction; me for keeping it somewhat in focus as the sun slinked behind the trees and said goodbye forever to Christmas 2013.

*I have put quotation marks around this statement, but in actuality, it is my memory of what he said, and probably not verbatim. I do not apologise.