Sometimes encouragement and support arrives from an unexpected
source. Sometimes my own child, the child I carried and have known for almost
50 years surprises me with his insight and comments about something that is
very important to me, i.e., my blog postings. It’s also a surprise to find that
same something is very important to him.
An email from my son provided surprise and encouragement with
regard to the blog I was writing in 2014, i.e.,
“What the heck?
No writings since August? You should keep doing them Ma. Even if no one
comments. It's like a bit of history for me or you or us as a family. It's your
insight to how you are, daily or yearly perspectives on things you do or the
family did/does. Also bits of family loved ones who have been forgotten but are
remembered for what they have passed on.
“Anyways, just my
thoughts on your blog. Your retired, you have time (I think), you can be the
writer you always wanted to be (and you are) by sharing your thoughts, ideas,
wisdom, humor, experience & history of your life with us.
“Sure it might be
a small group of folks. But it's these folks who love you Ma.”
He also said he was printing them out and planned to save them
to have when he’s as old, or older, than his dad was then.
Decades ago (and I wish now that I’d begun with the very first
Christmas we were married), I began to write a Christmas newsletter. Each one
had a paragraph or two about each family member. They celebrated each member’s
success or reported on difficulties for that year…soccer team championship or
the breast cancer battle are examples. Each newsletter is a little annual
family history; and even though my sons are grown with families of their own, I
continue to write and send these newsletters, which began with four members and
now includes ten. I’ve always imagined my family having and reading them
when I’m no longer around to continue creating these annual reports.
It never occurred to me until that morning’s email that I was
doing the very same thing with my blog postings. From reading other blogs and
thinking about what I wanted to do with my blog, I was more oriented toward a
goal of obtaining what another blogger I had read just achieved…10,000 readers.
If I didn’t have readers or my readership wasn’t climbing, then what I was
writing must not be of great interest to anyone. I hadn’t realized my blogging
provided information, history, thoughts and ideas my own son would want to
print and keep and treasure. Surely, this is the very best and most important
reason to blog…at least in my opinion.
Thank you son, for your email back then…it’s one I’ve saved and have
read again and again for inspiration.
My son, AJ, left a comment on that post from 2014: “Fab, just a fab job Ma. I’m glad I
provided a lil’ kick to your fanny for some inspiration. Love Yer son.”
Once again, AJ provided a “lil’” kick to my fanny so I’d have something
to post today. I’ll need to forego jumping right into the garden today and
prepare something to post for tomorrow. I think that “lil’” kick may provide me
with more than one day’s writings. Thanks again, AJ, six years later.