Why Do You Blog?

I began last year because so many of my friends and relatives wanted me to write them of our first year off the grid. My husband and I were venturing into an area none of them would dare ("Leave my tv? No way!"). I strangled at the thought of writing an email stuffed with information and it not be published. Also, I needed to satisfy my desire to write for myself only. Since 1992 I've attended writing classes and discovered that (1) I could write a scene (2) I could write magazine articles but(3) NOT a novel. I did get a few short stories on paper, but no one who supposedly knows what makes a writer thought them good enough for me to proceed with other stories. Blog was a word bantered about on TV, referred to on radio, but I wasn't sure anyone could participate in this unknown world of words. I didn't want to add my two cents about political and religious thoughts. But, once introduced to "Compose", this blank page dared me to pour out the words. Later I discovered that blogs were forever!. I can imagine my gggggggggdtr (who may be a writer herself) finding me online one cold winter day of boredom and laughing at the simplistic manner in which I pen my words.

A few weekends ago NPR had an interview with the creator of www.technorati.com. I was driving and jotting notes at the same time, so if some of my facts are off, please correct me, if you heard the same program.

Mr. Technorati mentioned:

1. There are over 500,000 bloggers, two new ones every scond!
2. Growth since 2002 has occurred every 5-7 months.
3. Blogs by non-English writers have risen tremendously, many wanting to "have their say" about world events. (Probably, this is the only medium where self-expression is uncensored!)
4. The most popular blogger is an actress from China who writes daily and includes photos she takes on her phone of what is happening behind the scenes of her films.
5. Most bloggers write because of the power it gives them.
6 And, last note, Mr. T. believes this need to express oneself about world events will reinvigorate civics. (This is a notable point.)

His website is jammed with good reading, and when I have nothing to do, or I can't sleep between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., I'll read the happenings in the blogging world.

Power--I don't think of this as the basis of my writing. I appreciate that each of us writes words of encouragement to those whose entries we read. We've become cheerleaders. A wonderful sense of goodness emanates from these. Breaths of fresh air lure us away from the daily headlines and give us the sense of connection...

...so... why do you write?

A Daily Parade

No matter how often we see it, nor the number of times a day, the parade of turkeys evokes from us the same thrill of discovery. The family crossing the road, little spots on the tarmac dutifully following mom, suddenly become a family of teenagers wobbling faster as their legs grow stronger.

Then there are the six toms who faithfully cross the road, walking towards our yard, seemingly aimlessly, until we watch the now familiar path they take each evening, pulling at the blueberries as they go. Up the hill to the back of the cabin where they find their nesting trees. We watch this parade daily--this marvel of nature.

Deer don't parade. We do have a doe who seems lost from her family. She nibbles and cavorts through the trees. Just last week a 4 point buck stood not 20 feet away from us, interested only in the delicious leaves of the mountain laurel. He pays no attention as we whisper, point our camera, snap a few times. We twist our fingers hoping he doesn't see our new flower garden.

Interesting, isn't it, how little we notice creatures of nature when we live in the city? I'm waiting for the parade of bears to cross our yard one evening. Now's the time for their migration. Wouldn't that be a magnificent sight?