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Blog-a-Versary

November 25, 2020

As a former journal keeper, I have fully embraced blogging, for several reasons. For one, accountability! Knowing other people are reading forces me to be a) somewhat coherent, b) sometimes clever and c) occasionally heartfelt. When I scribbled for my eyes only, I really didn’t care about grammar or syntax or legibility, much less enthralling content. Another plus for the blog column: my written history is right at my fingertips! When I want to recount a cute saying from one of my toddlers, I have to haul out my old handwritten journals and re-read EVERY entry until I find the gem I seek (only to discover, often, that it ain’t quite as gem-like as I remembered). 

On the minus side: I realize that I am at the mercy of my platform (the inventively named “Blogger”) and that at any moment, with a gentle “poof”, the whole shebang could disappear. I do keep copies of my posts on my computer, but still…it would be a ton of work to re-do the entries with the accompanying photos, audio files, etc. and, knowing me, I might not bother. What a loss that would be for my biographer someday!!

At any rate, we are nearing the ninth anniversary of my first post. When I wrote Take a Hike about an after-Thanksgiving outing with the fam, I truly expected it to be a flash-in-the-pan, like so many of my other ventures. At some point, though, it took on a life of its own, and now I wouldn’t quit blogging any more than I’d decide to quit brushing my teeth. I average three or four posts per month (rest assured, I brush my teeth rather more frequently). Once a year, I rev up the engine and crank out 30 entries in a row (usually in November), after which I subside, exhausted, with nouns and verbs scattered on the floor all around me.

Since Turkey Day is tomorrow, I thought I’d “peep” (or  “gobble” to imitate the appropriate bird) at Posts of Thanksgivings Past…

2012: Surprise! Another after-holiday outdoor family activity, which included the first (and only) time I successfully threw a frisbee AND made a basket at the neighborhood courts. Like many a savvy athlete, I quickly retired, resting on my laurel.

2013: It’s The Thought That Counts?: Focusing on my friend Mary Ellen’s VERY thoughtful present that year (tickets to a taping of The Rachael Ray Show in NYC).

2014: Whaddayaknow?: The Thanksgiving Evan had us all deliver five minute presentations about subjects we knew well. Conclusion: I guess I don’t know much well.

2015: What Not to WearBinging a TV “comfort” show with my girls

2016: Attention Black Friday Shoppers!: Savvy holiday bargain hunters…versus me

2017: Curve Balls: The swell day the furnace chimney collapsed.

2018: Our Brooklyn Thanksgiving:  Fun at Julie and Gil’s.

2019: NaBloPoMo--NoMo?: Of blog-a-thons and trying new dessert recipes.

Nine years hence, will I still be blogging? Who knows?

But I plan on sticking around to find out.

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    I am an author (of four books, numerous plays, poetry and freelance articles,) a director (of Spiritual Formation at a Lutheran church,) and a producer (of five kids).

    I write about my hectic, funny, perfectly imperfect life.

    Please visit my website: www.eliseseyfried.com or email me at eliseseyf@gmail.com.

     

     

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