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| Rappelling ropes bound to a tree at Giant City State Park |
"Bind us together with shoelace and leather! Bind us together, O Lard!" If you've ever lived in the South, you know what I mean. It may be a deep-fried life, hot as hell sometimes and crisp with promise and not much else, but at least you can depend on your friends and family through good as well as bad times. They lift you up instead of dragging you down like a millstone around your neck.
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| Rappelling ropes bound to people below |
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| SAM on a trail in Giant City State Park, March 15, 2013 |
No, it's not really the "lard" that flavors life in the South. And, yes, I'm including life in Southern Illinois too. There is something mysterious and wonderful about that place.
I moved there the summer before my junior year in high school, a confusing and vulnerable time for any young person. Life could have taken a wrong turn for me, but somehow things worked out. Everywhere I looked and listened, people were talking about Jesus. "Jesus Saves!" signs were posted on telephone poles and trees alongside country roads we took to school and work each day. My dad would poke a little fun at them and remark "Oh yeah? Moses invests!" He didn't mean any disrespect. The move meant big changes for him too. Back then, at least to me, he seemed to take everything in stride. But he was probably just as confused and vulnerable as I was. I think we all are at one time or another. We might think we can handle it alone, but we can't.
Ties that bind us together: they're not lard, and they aren't shoelace and leather. Joking aside, somehow, somewhere we find the ones that fit--if we're prayed for, lifted up, blessed by and with family and friends.
Thank you, blogging friends, for sharing the past five years with me. I've enjoyed your good company along the way.
Congratulations on your five-year blogaversary, W2W! I knew we were both newbies that first year, but I didn't realize that we both started blogging within a week or two of each other. I don't know about you, but I had no idea I'd keep up with it this long. The ties that bind are indeed so important; I think of my long-time blogging connections like you as friends, too. So glad to have "met" you, W2W, and wishing you many more years of blogging!
ReplyDeleteDear Walk2write,
ReplyDeleteCongratulation for five years of blogging! A long time - sort of diary, I think.
Yes, it is necessary to have friends who are just there, understand each other, listen, and to help each other is good. When they are chirpy they are like Champagne!
Congratulations: If you're anything like me you've evolved with your blog. It helps keep me grounded, too.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 5 year blogaversary!!! I have forgotten when I started (sad, eh)? But your blog is a thing of beauty, and I, for one, am glad to have found it!
ReplyDeletecongrats are in order no doubt. you're one of my favorite bloggers, but don't tell the other ones I said so.... big ole virtual hugs.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on five years of blogging! That's a lot of time sharing a lot of thoughts. I hope I can keep up that long :)
ReplyDeleteI used to live about an hour north of Paducah, up in Independence, KY. Lots of crazy weather around there!
Happy Five! Yes, you are right to celebrate the bonds that tie us to others. You once commented on my blog that you appreciate my posts even though we have quite different perspectives on some issues. I value your blog for the same reason and have learned from you too. I love how you tie in a variety of sources from literature, gardening and pop culture. You have a fun sense of humor and great empathy. Here's to many more years!
ReplyDeleteWell happy 5th! I remember when you first started blogging you were EVERYWHERE! I thought you quite experienced at the time. I did not realize I started my blog before you. Who knew? It has been a pleasure getting to know you and SAM and your writing, as always, is so darned good@! Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! So where are you going from here? A book? :-)
ReplyDeleteThe blogging world is filled with people who wore out, moved on and gave up writing because it was to hard. You;ve keep the "creative force" going for five years now. And that is quite an accomplishment...:)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rose. I think I found out about your blog from Tina. I've been able to meet up with her twice now and enjoyed both times very much. We get up to Illinois fairly often. I'm sure you and I will be able to connect sometime in the near future. Thanks for being such a regular visitor and good blogging friend.
ReplyDeleteBritta, thank you. I tried keeping a diary several times when I was younger, but it was boring and I gave it up. Blogging is so much more fun. You learn so much about the rest of the world and get so much encouragement and enjoyment from all sorts of different perspectives. Giving up the blog would be unthinkable.
You're right, Mr. S. It's interesting to go back and read some old posts and see how much I've changed. Some improvement with lots of room for even more. It's always a WIP (work in progress). Maybe that's why I can't bring myself to finish a novel. If I ever do, it would have to be a serial one. I could never be happy with ending a story.
So happy to have met you too, Julie. You can find out when you started your blog if you go to your dashboard and look up all posts. Then go to the first one listed. Let me tell you, it's a bit of a shock to read it again.
Well, thank you, Claude. You're one of my faves too, and I'm glad we connected. I think it was through Julie's blog with some heartfelt, honest comment you made there. I imagine you having a gruff voice and blushing when someone gives you a real hug.
I'm glad you have joined the conversation, Mark. I think you will be someone who sticks with the blog. Just find yourself a good group of friends to hang out with (like I have here), and you're more than halfway there. You're right about KY weather, especially in the winter. We moved to Florida 10 years ago from Paducah, right in the middle of an ice storm. We usually try to avoid visiting up there at least until spring arrives.
Thank you, Sarah. Your visits and comments here mean a lot to me. You've been blogging even longer than I have, and it's inspiring to see how much you have accomplished with your writing and painting. I hope that next time we visit Maine I can meet you in person. It would be an honor.
Thanks to you, Tina, I have kept up this little blog. Most everyone has been great, but you really have the gift of encouragement. I hope that you and Mr. Fix-It can visit us here sometime. I would love to try to repay your hospitality. You are a special friend and always will be.
Ciss B, thanks. Maybe, someday, a book. But like I said earlier, it would be difficult to end it.
TB, thank you so much. Maybe a lot of people move on because their lives get too complicated or maybe it's because they lose hope. My life has always been complicated, so no surprises here, and I guess that's the way I like it. And I won't lose hope as long as friends like you all keep on keepin' on.
Congratulations on your 5th blogaversary!
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed reading your posts; a sense of humor, a clean style, a variety of topics...I learned a lot.
I sometimes felt like giving up blogging but on second thought, just like you say, it's a good way to learn and make me feel connected.
"Bind us together with love" sounds good.
Wishing you many more years of writing!