Thursday, January 24, 2008

Exiting Chaos with Grace and Style

The first time I ever heard the term "Blog"was a couple of years ago at my nephew's wedding . A family friend was bragging about her impossibly hip art school daughter who was "Blogging".

"She's WHAT"? Say I. picturing something related to wooden shoes and maybe peanut butter or marshmallow cream.

"You know, she has an on line diary where she writes about her life and posts it on the Web" replies proud mama.

Having gone to art school myself, I blush and stutter at the mere thought of posting my intimate recitation of those times on the web.

Today the web is lousy with blogs and blog sites and bloggers. I tried to use two or three sites before I came back to this one, which I learned how to use at an Artist's retreat last spring from another young and impossibly hip Pittsburgh artist. It took a while, but I have become aware of the possibilities of blogging.

Don't worry. I don't remember my art school days well enough to recount them and my life today is way too dull to keep a diary under my bed about, much less publish on the freaking Internet. But, I do have some ideas to share on several things that drive a lot of folks crazy on a regular basis; Clutter, Christmas and Credit Cards.

In my crone years, I have become a fan of something I think of as collective wisdom. At one time I truly believed I could read all the books (and blogs) attend every seminar and eventually I could figure it all out by myself. Life hasn't validated this belief. Experts and my enviable library haven't offered me as much in years as brunch with Jojou or a phone chat with Barb when I am deeply engaged in examining my dilemmas. Books and seminar speakers don't offer compassionate, reflective, and personal support borne out of shared experience of both me and my/our life issues. So, I am widening my circle tonight. Welcome to my blog.