Now, where did I leave that?

Monday, July 22, 2013

The Odd World of Blogging

Blogging is kind of weird. For me--and many like me--it's both writing exercise and semi-journal. I began this one just before the end of 2009, I think in large part to make me write, somewhere, something. Two years later, I bid you all a fond farewell, having decided it was keeping me from Serious Writing, giving me a false sense of written accomplishment, and announced the end of Confessions of a Would-Be Mountain Womon. That lasted a whole whopping month. I wasn't writing any more elsewhere, and I missed the act of electronic journaling, of sharing my thoughts, fears, joys with others. And I especially missed the comments, the interactions with you.

I also love reading your blogs. We share some assorted similiarities, and some big differences. Not one of us has the same life as the other, although one or the other travels the same spiritual path, or is a would-be homesteader as well (or provides an example to emulate), or knows what it is to feel less one's self without wool in some form nearby, or feels more complete when writing. We may not know each other, but perhaps we've both watched our children grow up and leave. Maybe we've both begun new lives unrecognizeable from what they were before. I like to think we bond with certain bloggers on some level, perhaps not all, but certain ones whose journeys resonate with something in us, whose written postcards awaken memories or inspiration.

But even as we bridge the distance between us with words and thought, the realities of physical distance and relative anonymity are a gulf we sometimes never manage to leap. Awhile back, the blog My Farmhouse Kitchen abruptly fell silent. One day there were posts, and then....not. It was months later that another blogger posted the heartbreaking news that the My Farmhouse Kitchen's writer had fought valiantly but lost a battle with cancer. Her blog, and more so the glimpses of her spirit in that blog, are missed.

The blogosphere seems a delicate web to me, made with silken threads that can withstand the darkest night's rain and glisten in the rising sun, but can be torn to shreds with a wave of the hand.

And so, perhaps we make friends with some fellow bloggers as our souls recognize kindred spirits, reaching out past the pages of cyberspace. And for the rest, well...we celebrate their presence, honor their hearts spilled out on our computer screens, and mourn when they disappear, grateful for the time together.

14 comments:

AkasaWolfSong said...

As I sit here and write through the puddle of tears falling I whisper "Thank You Sister!"

My answer just arrived...

I love you!
Akasa

Nancy J said...

Ashling, your words are heartfelt, and so true, written with much thought, no need to write elsewhere, here we all are so much richer for these words today, miles have no barrier between friends. We share, care, comment, rejoice, see changes in others and ourselves, and value each blog friend with a full heart. Fond greetings, Jean.

turquoisemoon said...

I often think of quitting too!!! Not for your beautiful reasons. I love my cyber friends and read their stories with so much interest. Sometimes I don't comment, because I have nothing to add... I just find everyone so interesting. I love our differences as well as our similarities. I think I write because it's helping me discover Me... and sometimes, me ain't so daggum pertty...!!! ommmm

CraveCute said...

Goodness, I almost thought you were saying goodbye again! When bloggers that I am fond of leave, I feel sad. Almost the same as having a friend move away. They say they will visit your blog and keep in touch, and then they don't, and they slip away forever. I am very happy you are staying. I love to read your thoughts and musings. Thank you for putting into words some of the things I have thought but have not been able to articulate on my own blog. I am grateful for our time together.

Ashling said...

Nancy, you are most kind....and right; isn't it funny how much we come to care for these people we will probably never meet. Thank you!

Ashling said...

@ Akasa---thank YOU!

@ Turquoise Moon...pretty is pretty boring. Please don't stop!

@ CraveCute...thank you...your blog always makes me smile!

Jen said...

Nicely put. I do feel like I've made friends via my blog. Even if we never meet in real life I care about them, look forward to reading their posts, and worry when they go quiet.

Willow said...

I am so glad you are writing more often, you have such a gift to express things with depth.
I use to write with depth .
Now often I post light and airy when deep words are fogging.
I have an autommune disease that has advanced and it goes through phases where my brain just doesn't convey things as quick or at a depth it use to , leaving me at a loss for words sometimes.
It seems harder to connect on a person to person level when the disease is going through a flare because I can't think quicky and do get embarrased...
but my spirit and connection to nature never fail me and connecting with nature is always my saving grace .
I embrace my connection with nature and take photos and share the connection blogging in that aspect when I am at a loss for expressing myself well with words.

Our Neck of the Woods said...

This is so beautifully written. I'm sorry that your blogger friend passed away. That has to be so sad. I have made some great friendships through blogging and I really enjoy reading about what everyone is up to. Like you said, we are all different but yet connected!

Robin Larkspur said...

I have been very fortunate to have connected with many bloggers over the last three years, many like-minded individuals. It is a real pleasure to follow others' blogs. I have also been fortunate in meeting two of my blogger friends, and have hopes of meeting others. Blogging can be a therapy, a place for closure, for fun, for bliss, for information and debate. It offers so much to those who care to explore. I love reading your words, and I feel connected to you and Linda in many ways.

Dawn Zichko said...

I am so glad you didn't stop writing here.

Ashling said...

@ Jen...it tickles me knowing you have a house in the Catskills; I was bummed the day we went to your then-shop & had missed you.

@ Willow...thank you! I enjoy your posts immensely, and a picture can indeed be "worth a thousand words."

@ Our Neck of the Woods--your blog tickles me; your homestead is where we'd be if we were about 20 years younger, and I so admire what you're doing.

@ Robin...thanks! You're another one I know isn't so very far away geographically. And when you couldn't post you were missed and I worried.

@ Dawn--thank you. Me too.

Michaele said...

Well said! I have the same sentiments and also tried to give it up but couldn't. I am grateful to have met people like you : )

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

I have for the most part loved blogging. Sometimes though it seems like between posting, reading and commenting,I have lost time for exercising and just enjoying the world outside. I don't think I could give blogging up it though. There have been so many joyful moments reading and having a good laugh here and there. I guess I need to organize my time more efficiently. I bet there is a blog out there that could help me do that.LOL