I could have entitled this post “relatives and friends” but that’s not as catchy. And I do love metaphors.
As I get older, relatives seem to become more important. I’m not sure why, since I still feel closest to those friends who continue to breathe inspiration, warmth, and support into my life. And that includes blogger friends . And, of course, my long-time women’s group (who I don’t get to see much of any more).
Today, the mail brought some photos of a batch of my cousins (I have a slew of cousins), some of whom have moved to Florida and some of whom often visit those who have moved to Florida. The photos show them tanned and smiling, even my younger cousin whose hair is growing back after an intense bout with major breast cancer. She looks perkier than ever, with her growing-back hair short and curly. “Come down and visit us in Paradise,” they tell me. Ah, if only I could.
I’ve never felt I had much in common with my cousins besides blood and the shared memories of our young years growing up together. My life went in a different direction from theirs. But whenever we get together, I laugh so hard I have to run to the bathroom. I don’t always make it. They know how to enjoy themselves. They know how to relax. And it’s all contagious. As we get older and become the “elders” in our clan, we find ourselves coming full circle.
We live too far apart to get together these days, but we have begun to email more, reminding me of the thickness of the blood that binds us.
LIving as I isolated as I do, I seem to have forgotton how to make friends, even blogging friends, and that’s something I have to put more effort into. Instead of complaining that I don’t feel connected any more, I need to reach out and make or keep connections to friends.
And so I thank those of my readers who left comments on this post.
Maria at Alembic is someone whose blog I used to read all the time. Her writing is lyrical and personal and compelling. It’s my fault that I’ve lost touch with her, and I’ve already begun to renew the connection.
Rebecca, of Pocahontas County Fare, is a blogger I hadn’t heard of until now, when I linked over to her site. She blogs about poetry, knitting, her cat, the land where she lives, fiber arts — so many of the things I also blog about. Why hadn’t I discovered her before this? She obviously discovered me!!! I’m certainly going to get to know her in the days to come..
Elayne Riggs is a blogger I’ve read on and off since I started. (She introduced herself as Elayne with a “Y”; that’s how I still think of her.) She works hard and blogs hard and spends a lot of time reading the blogs of others. Another friend whose creative air I need to breathe more of.
Full circle, back to “blood,” I’m waiting to see if b!X (my son), who designed and hosts my weblog, can switch my comment feature from Typekey to Halo Scan — thus making it easier for readers to leave comments and for me to filter out comment spam. Maybe the conversations can start again.
I’m feeling a little more optimistic today about both blogging and breathing.