May 18, 2010
How many of you have even heard of the show “Then Came Bronson”? Yeah, that’s what i thought. Well anyway, at this time of our history the big screen hit, Easy Rider had hit the stage (1969) and show cased two young counter-culture cyclist looking for the “real” American. Perhaps Middle America was not quite ready for that story on the small screen, but Then Came Bronson expressed some of the themes of that movie in a way more palatable to the mass audience (NOTE: the pilot movie was completed before Easy Rider hit the screen. Also, the show only lasted 1 year and had 26 episodes).
The idea of getting back to basics was definitely “blowin’ in the wind” at that time. “Natural” food, ecology and hippie “love & peace” communes were other expressions of this philosophy. Bronson had all the necessities of life so he owned only his motorcycle, his bedroll and the clothes on his back. Those clothes usually consisted of corduroy pants, black tee shirt, leather jacket, and watch cap. Here is excerpts from the first episode:
Taking a trip?
“What’s that?” “Taking a trip?”
“Yeah.”
“Where to?”
“Oh, I don’t know…wherever I end up, I guess.”
“Pal, I wish I was you.”
“Really?…well, hang in there.”
The businessman smiles wistfully and nods. The light changes, and off goes the laconic motorcyclist, gunning it out of the city, toward open space and adventure. The cyclist is Jim Bronson. Although he’s not known for much conversation, he is a recent “ex-newspaperman”. The reason for this cross country quest for Bronson? A friend, Nick, had recently committed suicide right before his eyes. Jim had been unable to stop him jumping from a bridge. 
Before Nick leapt, he asked Jim to buy back the motorcycle from his soon-to-be widow. Jim had originally owned and customized the bike, then sold it to Nick when he became a reporter. He began thinking about the meaning of his own life. He decided to quit the rat race, simplify, see the country, visit some old friends and discover what life would put in his path.
Isn’t that what we all aspire to do? Find out the meaning of life? On, and by whatever vehicle we see fit for our journey through this life? SO, what’s your journey look like these days?
