I have to admit that I love writing using the blogging style. It’s a perfect outlet for somebody like me. But I realize that I am far, far from consistent. As my closest friends know, I get excited and involved in facebook and writing a blog; but then something always happens, or maybe I should say that “I allow something to happen.” I start to feel like I’m pushy, bragging, etc. These are just excuses I make to myself because I’m shy.
The truth is that I live–by choice–in a rural area of Pennsylvania where there are more cows and horses than people. It’s quite, quite easy to become withdrawn because, simply, there are not a lot of people around to associate with.
So what is left? Other than resigning myself to a practically hermit-like existence? The Internet and to be precise, facebook. That means I have to figure out why I get so weird and strange when I look at the pictures and posts. I’ve read that a lot of people have negative reactions to facebook…it’s mostly envy, wanting to measure up to others’ accomplishments. But that all changes when you realize–when I realized–that this is a very effective way of staying touch. And that means I have to quit being childish–and do some growing up? I believe that, after much pondering, that facebook is a really good thing.
At my desk I’m surrounded by photos of loved ones, photo albums that hold pictures of loved ones, precious mementos of my beloved son Michael’s heroism, and my collection of owls. I’m proud to say that once my husband and son learn that I’m interested in something, they rush out and find everything they can to fill this need/interest. I’m very proud of that. Right now there is literally no more room for photos, owls, and loved objects.
My favorite photo is a picture of my father at the age of 22, sitting on the steps of my mother’s house on Mirror Street in Pittsburgh, blowing a kiss to my mother…they had just gotten engaged. This picture watches over me and though there’s considerable dust and animal hair in my house, these things are kept pretty clean.
No matter what happens, I’m going to keep on posting and reading about what’s happening to other people. You can look at cows and mountains for just so long.
lgmwriting 