Yes, believe it or not it is Thanksgiving Day! Later we will be heading to Kentucky to spend the weekend with my folks. All the kids are coming in with their kids. My Colorado brother and his wife are flying in. Another brother is living in Kentucky, as is the family of my deceased brother. We will most certainly eat a lot, laugh even more, enjoy the camaraderie and the chaos. This will be the first time the family, all of us, will be together since my brother’s funeral in April, 2005. Just this year, Mom and Dad celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Dad survived an aneurism that he was not supposed to survive. My son and his wife suffered a miscarriage which broke all of our hearts, but now they are preparing to foster children. Their strength and courage is awe-inspiring. My daughter, the older of two girls, stays active with her community involvement, volunteering and work. She and John are raising her son, my grandson Jacob. The younger daughter and youngest child is expecting her first child. She and Eric, along with his daughter, will also be there. We will all be in Kentucky, grieving our losses, celebrating our miracles, and loving with passion. Life is short, too short, and we know it. I am fortunate to be part of a family that celebrates life, the blessings and the curses, all of it. L’Chaim!
As I was thinking about whether to post today, it occurred to me that I began blogging two years ago this month, November 17, 2009, to be exact. I began blogging because I was going out of my mind looking for work, wondering what I should do, depressing my life away. I had no idea at the time that blogging would become such a big part of my life. Another example of someone changing one thing in his or her life and life responds in positive ways. One analogy is a plant that thrives but without water it wilts. I was wilting. When the plant is watered, a seemingly dead plant will spring back to life and flourish. Blogging was the water I needed, an outlet to express myself, be creative, whatever.
Blogging helped me uncover a passion, develop a life plan, form friendships across miles and continents. Now I am in grad school preparing for a career that I have talked about for years. I picked up the camera again, a hobby that I abandoned decades ago but now see as part of an income-generating side line. Life is brighter and more hopeful as I move forward. Instead of this one blog, this primary blog, I now have three blogs, and one blog set aside for creative writing–even though I haven’t touched it much . . . yet! Those blogs are linked to this one in the menu across the top of this page, so feel free to take a “gander.”
I truly have bountiful blessings. I am a rich woman! Thank you. Gracias. Todah Rabah. Merci. Danke. Obrigado. Grazie. Thank you Thank you Thank you.
I have included a reprint of my very first post ever if you are interested. This is the one that started it all. Enjoy.
🙂
Well, the time has come for me to get with the times, hence this blog. There are many reasons why this seems to be the right time for me to begin such an undertaking. First and foremost, I enjoy the writing process. It keeps my mind alert and focused. As someone who has been unemployed for a year now (a sign of the times which deserves its own blog) I find that I need to do something that will keep my mind from atrophying. There is no one subject or theme for this blog–at least not yet! I feel sure that in time a theme will begin to emerge, but for now I simply write what comes to my mind.
Secondly, I want to write for my family, especially my children. I want to share myself with them. They don’t know my story, at least not my perspective on my story. Do any of us really know or understand our parents unless they make a concerted effort to be open and vulnerable to our impressions and judgements? I think that if we were to be more open, more transparent with each other — parent and child — we would find within ourselves a deeper compassion and love, one for the other. At least I’m hoping that is the case. Simply put, I want my children to forgive the wrongs I committed against them. Mind you, I’m not talking about intent to do my children harm, rather the wrongs of the stronger over the weaker, the wrongs that occur when one thinks and acts out of their own pain and memories rather than with a sensitivity of how one’s behavior affects those in his or her care, in this case, one’s offspring, my offspring.
Third, this is one way to improve my writing skills, to exhibit writing “samples” etc, for prospective employers. Bleh…. Secretly and selfishly, I really do believe I have something of value to write about. To be a writer or blogger, one must be narcissistic enough to believe that others will be interested in what s/he has to write. I fall in that category. Seems arrogant to me, and in truth, that is an arrogant stance. Sorta. I guess. Anyway, arrogant or not , I want folks to read my blogs. Family foremost, friends second, future employers….well, maybe.
Bottom line, I just like to write. I like the process. I hate — strong word? yes, but appropriate — getting started. So I expect that writing this will be a curse and a blessing. I will write to my heart’s content. I will share my world view, life experiences, lessons learned or not, trivia, profound thoughts (as I said, one has to be a bit of an arrogant narcissist to do this), and maybe more. Please respond if you are so inclined. Make suggestions. Offer encouragement. All I ask is that whatever you write, even if you vehemently disagree with me, that you express yourself truthfully but with absolute respect to me and others who might be reading this. No name calling. No foul language. No insults. Honest opinions expressed with civility. (could write another blog on the lack of civility in these days and times.)
Looking forward to this process and your responses!
Chana/ Cecelia Rogow-Futch
Inspired Vision 