Ticket to Ride
A long time ago, five years today in fact, I sat down to write some thoughts and they turned into a half decade of blogging. This entry marks the 417th post to appear in this space and a cumulative total of over 266,000 words. Thank God for punctuation because that would be one mother of a run on sentence. My articles have been graced with more than 1600 amazing pictures taken by Daughter, a gifted photographer and professional educator. A stunning array can also be credited to Cousin, a world traveler and ace shutterfly. During the years that we have been meeting on this page, Son graduated college and Daughter got her masters. I went to school for court reporting and then graduated somewhere else with a bachelors degree in writing. Along the way, Husband taught me how to balance on the back of his motorcycle so I wouldn't tip over and make a mess in the road. The learning goes on. At the moment I am in graduate school working toward my MFA in Creative Writing. Before all that, I was a newspaper reporter and columnist. Needless to say, I'm only a kid at heart.
I have mixed feelings about this, but this post will be my last for the time being. I need to concentrate on my degree and the substantial collection of written work that will comprise my MFA Project and which I have yet to write. This page will stay up right where you find it, though, since I prepaid a multiple year package, wise shopper that I am. Besides, this spot has become like a home to me and you don't sell your townhouse just because you want a month in the country. I cannot predict when new entries will appear, but please don't forget about me. A post might pop up from time to time on no particular schedule. If you are a subscriber, you will receive your usual notice of publication by email, and if you aren't, perhaps you wouldn't mind checking back every now and again. If it's these same words you see, there might be a post in the archive that you missed the first time, or some photos of Daughter's you'd like to revisit. The site is easy to explore, and if you hang around while we're away it would thrill us both.
Thank you so very much for reading. Without you, I'm just putting words on a page. The best part of writing for me is knowing I'm being read. Writers always like to say they write for themselves, and while that's true, it also may be bullshit. Of course we write for ourselves. Sometimes we're our only readers. Writers write because it's what we need to do, but the most satisfied writers are those who connect with others through their written words. Writers also like to say they love writing. That might be another whiff of meadow burger. I think the sentiment that hits closer to the bone is what Dorothy Parker once said: "I hate writing, I love having written."
See you later.
Daughter's Fotos are from her Pennsylvania visit to Boyfriend's Family Farm
the waterfall
the peacocks
the butcher shed
the heart within
the mushrooms
the city girl
Wow, the end of an era! But then again, on to a new era! Here's to you -- will be interested to keep following the story, "one way or another"...
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I understand and support your decision. I will miss your blog more than I can say. It has been a vehicle for intimacy in knowing your thinking, your life process and your passions through these five years. Thank you for sharing such a large piece of yourself in this way. I love you and can't wait for the day that you begin again.
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Wow, I'm going to miss this blog, though I understand the need to pare back on projects.
It just means more brunches at Betty's House will be necessary in order to bask in your sense of humor :) Because that doesn't take up any time At ALL.
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Not at ALL, you are so right. Much thanx for the faithful readership and classy commenting. See you sooner than later. xo
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Okay, I'm not taking this well. I love your blog. I read it every week. I feel connected to you and Daughter and Son and Husband and delighted by your wit and wisdom and voice. I wish you only wonderful things on your journey, but I'll need time to grieve.
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