Wednesday, October 17, 2007

a blank page

I've been keeping a journal (almost) faithfully for about fifteen years now, and nearly every time I start a new book I write some version of the same idea:

"I love a blank page. The crisp, untouched pages smell of possibility. And even though the old books are still around, crammed into their boxes, this one is free from the frustration of bad days, the sadness of loss, the pang of regret. This book of blank pages is just for me. I might fill it with bits of pain or anger or grief, but for now it is blank, waiting...and all I can do is hope for joy instead of sorrow."

And here is another blank page. The smell isn't exactly the same (computers aren't quite the same as books!) but I still have that little tingle of excitement I get when faced with possibility. I may be the only one who ever reads it (who knows?) but I am full of hope for the pages to come.


This actually isn't my first blog, it's my second. Last January my husband and I moved to Germany (when I was 19 weeks pregnant!) and immediately I felt disconnected from friends and family back home. I made phone calls and sent letters (a few emails also, but I'm one of the few Americans still sending handwritten letters through the U.S. Post Office)...but it didn't take long to realize that every conversation and letter started with fifteen minutes or a page of things I told someone else just five minutes or three hours or two days ago. I finally decided to start a blog to share my experiences with pregnancy and explorations of Germany. It was great fun at first, but as soon as the Little Mister arrived people stopped reading what I wrote and just skipped to the pictures. And I wanted to write. It was Painted Maypole who unknowingly convinced me to give this a shot, with her fun Monday Missions (currently hosted by The Flying Mum) that would have been so out of place on my blog. So...here we go.

Flying on dragonfly wings.

18 comments:

  1. Welcome Dragonfly! hooray! so glad you've started. I will add a little link to you in my post today to see if I can't get some bloggy friends to drop by and see you, because I know they'll all love you as much as I do! I can't wait to read what you write!

    xoxoxox

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  2. welcome, it's a fun place, can wait to read more!

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  3. Hello! I came, as instructed by painted. (I call her "painted," you know, since we're on a first name basis and all.)

    I used to keep a journal for many years, too. And I think that quite a few of mine also started with a comment on the blankness of the new pages.

    I hope that blogging brings you much enjoyment, satisfaction and fun. Have a wonderful flight!

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  4. I often think family and friends who pop into my blog hoping to see updates and pictures of my children are disappointed to find so many words about nothing. And everything.

    Welcome to blogging. I hope you find a home here. I linked over from Maypole.

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  5. Hello, and welcome! Any friend of Painted Maypole is a friend of mine ;)

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  6. Painted Maypole sent me here to say hello, and I'm very glad I did. New beginnings are always so promising, aren't they?

    Welcome! (And I love your blog name..)

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  7. Just here from your friend Painted Maypole to say welcome. I already like what you have to say.

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  8. Welcome!

    I love this form of writing, and look forward to the rest of yours. :)

    Julie
    Using My Words

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  9. Following directions from PM's place.

    Welcome!

    I look forward to reading more of your lovely words.

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  10. ok, so you have more comments on your post than I have on mine. :) isn't blogging fun?! (and don't my bloggy friends rock?!)

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  11. Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures in Germany and with the little one.

    - Heidi

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  12. Welcome! I love Germany - but I think it was easier to go there for a few months when I was a teenager than it would be now. Being away from family is hard when you have a baby.

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  13. Hi! Doing as PM has asked. =) Looking forward to reading. Welcome!

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  14. Wow! Thank you all for your happy thoughts and welcomes. And yes, Painted Maypole, your bloggy friends *do* rock!! ;)

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  15. Hello, and welcome.

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  16. Hi! (you'll have to imagine me waving wildly)

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